College Professor Salary in Indianapolis, IN
College Professors in Indianapolis, IN earn a median of $59,000/year, ranging from $45,430 (25th percentile) to $94,400 (90th percentile). After Indiana state taxes (3.15%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 90), this is equivalent to $65,556 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Indianapolis, IN
Notable employers in this market include IU Indianapolis (the new standalone campus following the IUPUI split), Butler, University of Indianapolis, and Marian University. A one-bedroom in Broad Ripple or near campus runs around $1,000 to $1,300 monthly, putting Indianapolis among the better cost ratios for professors in this list. The metro is car-dependent and I-465 is the daily commute reality. Indiana's 3.05% flat state income tax is among the lowest here, plus county add-ons. IU Indianapolis's recent reorganization is reshaping the local academic labor market as the Indianapolis campus rebuilds research identity separate from Bloomington, opening unusual interim-and-restructured tenure-track lines as departments stabilize.
1Salary Distribution in Indianapolis, IN
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Indianapolis, IN Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN (current) | $59,000 | 90 | $65,556 |
| San Francisco, CA | $96,000 | 186 | $51,613 |
| New York, NY | $92,000 | 187 | $49,198 |
| Seattle, WA | $94,000 | 162 | $58,025 |
| Boston, MA | $85,000 | 162 | $52,469 |
| Austin, TX | $77,000 | 124 | $62,097 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average College Professor salary in Indianapolis, IN?
The median College Professor salary in Indianapolis, IN is $59,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $45,430 and the 90th percentile is $94,400.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a College Professor?
Indianapolis, IN has a cost of living index of 90 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $59,000 College Professor salary in Indianapolis, IN is equivalent to $65,556 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Indianapolis, IN?
Indianapolis, IN has a cost of living index of 90, meaning it is 10% less expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Indiana is approximately 3.15%.
What is the College Professor salary range in Indianapolis, IN?
In Indianapolis, IN, College Professors earn between $45,430 (25th percentile) and $94,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,000 per year.
How many College Professor jobs are there in Indianapolis, IN?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 22,500 College Professor positions in the Indianapolis, IN metropolitan area.
What do College Professors earn in Indianapolis, IN?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, College Professors in Indianapolis, IN earn a median annual wage of $59,000. The middle 50% earn between $45,430 and $75,520. The top 10% earn more than $94,400. There are approximately 22,500 College Professors employed in the Indianapolis, IN metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.6%.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place for a College Professor?
Indianapolis, IN has a cost of living index of 90 (US average = 100), making it 10% less expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a College Professor in Indianapolis, IN earning $59,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,556 relative to the US median. Indiana has a state income tax rate of approximately 3.15%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Indianapolis, IN?
Indianapolis, IN's cost of living index is 90, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $59,000 in Indianapolis, INhas the same purchasing power as $65,556 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Indianapolis, IN with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a College Professor in Indianapolis, IN?
The headline median of $59,000 is only part of the picture. Indianapolis, IN's cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here goes further than in most of the country. The $59,000 salary has the purchasing power of roughly $65,556 at national-average prices — a real premium for moving to a lower-cost market.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Indianapolis, IN, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $59,000 salary, that translates to roughly $16,520/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Indiana levies a state income tax of approximately 3.15%, which reduces take-home by roughly $1,859 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $52,799. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($96,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($92,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($94,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 3.6% year-over-year growth rate for College Professors in Indianapolis, IN is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for College Professors or the Indiana state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.