Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Indianapolis, IN
Based on 122 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $76,606 |
| 25th | $77,000 |
| 50th (median) | $80,000 |
| 75th | $93,934 |
| 90th | $114,850 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,438 | $63,877 | $71,500 | 54 |
| FY2021 | $65,832 | $65,354 | $78,811 | 37 |
| FY2022 | $69,955 | $65,832 | $80,950 | 60 |
| FY2023 | $66,895 | $66,560 | $71,634 | 40 |
| FY2024 | $67,725 | $67,725 | $77,000 | 49 |
| FY2025 | $80,000 | $76,606 | $91,172 | 80 |
| FY2026 | $77,896 | $77,896 | $98,040 | 42 |
Cost of living
Indianapolis's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $80,000 is worth about $83,600 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 $80,000, 25% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | $85,491 | 10 |
| Digital Mobile Innovations | too few | 8 |
| Infoshare Systems | too few | 7 |
| Deloitte | too few | 6 |
| Pyramid Technology Solutions | too few | 5 |
| Wolters Kluwer DXG | too few | 5 |
| Arrays Global | too few | 3 |
| GyanSys | too few | 3 |
| HSK Technologies | too few | 3 |
| TeckElements IT Services | too few | 3 |
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.