Software Engineer salary in Indianapolis, IN
Based on 1,034 certified H-1B filings in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Greenwood, Zionsville.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $95,202 |
| 25th | $95,250 |
| 50th (median) | $113,901 |
| 75th | $135,000 |
| 90th | $161,141 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $85,000 | $76,586 | $96,595 | 1,070 |
| FY2021 | $93,371 | $80,000 | $107,390 | 685 |
| FY2022 | $95,000 | $81,000 | $114,411 | 828 |
| FY2023 | $98,000 | $83,000 | $117,233 | 619 |
| FY2024 | $100,000 | $86,100 | $122,720 | 559 |
| FY2025 | $113,901 | $95,243 | $133,121 | 583 |
| FY2026 | $115,000 | $95,812 | $138,739 | 451 |
Cost of living
Indianapolis's median Software Engineer salary of $113,901 is worth about $119,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Indianapolis = 95.7).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Indianapolis, IN area earned a median of $106,870 in May 2025 (7,140 employed). The H-1B median here is $113,901, 7% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | $131,088 | 71 |
| Salesforce | $166,347 | 45 |
| Deloitte | $129,813 | 39 |
| Government Employee Insurance Company (GEICO) | $172,000 | 27 |
| Infoshare Systems | $95,202 | 17 |
| Aptiv US Services General Partnership | $127,407 | 16 |
| GyanSys | $134,000 | 16 |
| Wolters Kluwer DXG | $129,419 | 16 |
| Cummins | $116,158 | 14 |
| Capgemini America | $119,677 | 12 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $80,000 | 122 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,000 | 419 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,000 | 241 |
| Expert · Level IV | $143,585 | 228 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $76,606 | $80,000 | 122 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $95,202 | $96,000 | 419 |
| Senior · Level III | $112,507 | $125,000 | 241 |
| Expert · Level IV | $129,813 | $143,585 | 228 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.