Expert Software Engineer salary in Indianapolis, IN
Based on 228 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $129,813 |
| 25th | $132,538 |
| 50th (median) | $143,585 |
| 75th | $166,832 |
| 90th | $188,351 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,000 | $101,982 | $115,000 | 134 |
| FY2021 | $109,304 | $107,390 | $130,000 | 110 |
| FY2022 | $120,000 | $109,304 | $145,304 | 155 |
| FY2023 | $123,095 | $112,944 | $140,000 | 126 |
| FY2024 | $139,732 | $123,224 | $157,615 | 70 |
| FY2025 | $144,610 | $132,538 | $166,307 | 112 |
| FY2026 | $142,108 | $130,000 | $166,832 | 116 |
Cost of living
Indianapolis's median expert Software Engineer salary of $143,585 is worth about $150,000 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 $143,585, 34% higher.
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 | $145,475 | 36 |
| Deloitte | $132,538 | 18 |
| Salesforce | $196,079 | 16 |
| Government Employee Insurance Company (GEICO) | $181,855 | 14 |
| Aptiv US Services General Partnership | too few | 5 |
| Liberty Mutual Technology Group | too few | 5 |
| Cummins | too few | 4 |
| CVS Health | too few | 4 |
| Calumet GP | too few | 4 |
| CNO Services | too few | 4 |
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.