Biologist Salary
in Indianapolis
2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities
Last updated: September 2026 · Source: BLS OEWS · May 2025 release · series OEUM002690000000019102913
Typical range: $83,440 – $173,010
✓ Based on official government occupation survey data — not estimated.
How much does a Biologist make in Indianapolis, IN?
A Biologist in Indianapolis earns a median of $104,330/year (about $50/hour). Most earn between $83,440 (25th percentile) and $173,010 (75th percentile); top earners (90th percentile) make $173,010 or more — 45% above the US average. Figures are from BLS employer payroll data, not self-reports.
Understanding these Biologist salary numbers
We report percentiles, not a single average, because pay isn't evenly spread — a handful of very high earners would drag an average upward and mislead you. Here's exactly what each figure means.
Median (P50) — $104,330
Half of Biologists in Indianapolis earn more than this and half earn less. It's the most honest "typical" salary — better than an average, which gets skewed by a few top earners.
25th percentile (P25) — $83,440
The lower end of the typical range: 75% of Biologists earn more than this. It's common for early-career roles or lower-cost employers. Earning below it is grounds to negotiate.
75th percentile (P75) — $173,010
Your negotiation target: only 25% of Biologists earn above it. Reaching P75 usually means seniority, in-demand specialisations, or simply negotiating from data. See how to negotiate.
90th percentile (P90) — $173,010
Top earners: only 10% of Biologists make this or more — typically senior, highly specialised, or at the best-paying employers.
Gross vs after-tax pay
These figures are gross (before tax). What actually reaches your account depends on your country, state, and deductions. Estimate your net with the take-home calculator.
National vs Indianapolis pay
City figures apply the local market premium to BLS data, so Indianapolis differs from the US average by +45%. A higher number isn't always better once cost of living is counted.
Hourly rate — $50/hr
The hourly figure is the annual median divided by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). If you regularly work more than 40 hours, your real hourly rate is lower than this. Convert any salary with the salary calculator.
Why this differs from Glassdoor or Payscale
Those sites publish what people say they earn (self-reports), which skew high because higher earners report more often. Our figures come from mandatory employer payroll records (BLS OEWS), so they reflect the whole market — not just a vocal subset.
How current and reliable is this number?
This page carries a confidence score of 97/100, based on the data source and coverage. US figures track the latest BLS release and refresh automatically; international figures use OECD/ILO data. See the changelog for live data freshness.
What counts as a "good" Biologist salary in Indianapolis?
Around the median ($104,330) is solid and $173,010+ is strong — but "good" really depends on local costs. Check what the number is actually worth with the good-salary breakdown for Indianapolis.
Still curious how we get these numbers? Every figure is traceable to a primary source — see the full methodology and data sources.
Biologist salary in Indianapolis, IN: median $104,330 (P75 $173,010), per BLS OEWS via Official Salary, 2026.
Free JSON: /api/salary?job=biologist&city=indianapolis — no key. API & widgets →
Key insights for Biologists in Indianapolis
- ›Biologists in Indianapolis earn about 45% more than the national median for the role ($104K vs $72K).
- ›Cost of living in Indianapolis runs about 11% below the US average, so $104K is worth roughly $117K at national prices.
- ›After a simplified take-home estimate, $104K nets about $77K/yr — roughly $47K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
- ›Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Biologist reaches about $141K — a +35% step from mid-level.
Biologists in Indianapolis typically earn $83K–$173K a year.
The market median is $104K — half earn above, half earn below.
Top earners (top 10%) make $173K or more.
Based on BLS OEWS 2025 metro-area survey (2026) official survey data.
Biologist Salary Analysis — Indianapolis
Biologists in Indianapolis earn a median salary of $104K, which is 45% above the national median of $72K. Strong regional demand for biologists contributes to above-average wages here.
Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Indianapolis.
Cost of Living Adjustment
Indianapolis's cost of living is 11% below the US average. Your $104K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $117K in a city with average US living costs.
Salary Distribution — Indianapolis
5-band distribution from employer payroll records
New graduates, 0–1 yr exp
1–3 years experience
3–7 years, typical professional
Senior / high-performer — target
Staff / principal / lead
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Official Salary Fair Pay Score™
Is $104K a good salary for Biologist in Indianapolis?
Benchmarked against the official BLS wage distribution for Biologists in Indianapolis
Half of Biologists in Indianapolis earn more, half earn less. Enter your own salary in the checker above to see your exact percentile against this distribution.
Why This Salary?
How we arrived at $104K for Biologists in Indianapolis
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 metro-area survey. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.
Biologist Salary by Experience Level in Indianapolis
How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead
| Experience Level | Years | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | 0 | 0 yrs | $67,815 | $5,651 | $33 |
| Junior | 2 | 2 yrs | $85,551 | $7,129 | $41 |
| Mid-LevelTypical | 4 | 4 yrs | $98,070 | $8,173 | $47 |
| Senior | 6 | 6 yrs | $111,633 | $9,303 | $54 |
| Staff | 10 | 10 yrs | $140,846 | $11,737 | $68 |
| Principal | 14 | 14 yrs | $163,381 | $13,615 | $79 |
| Distinguished | 18 | 18 yrs | $169,015 | $14,085 | $81 |
Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.
Skills That Earn More — Biologist
Estimated premium above the Indianapolis median based on market demand
Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.
Biologist Intelligence Report
Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data
Career Opportunity Score
Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4
Total Compensation — Biologist
Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits
Bonus, equity, and benefits are modelled estimates from category norms (not scraped from any single employer); base is BLS. Actual total comp varies by employer, level, and negotiation.
Typical Benefits for Biologists
— show
Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay
Compare Biologist Salaries by City
How Indianapolis, IN stacks up against other major markets
| City | Median | P75 | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN (current) | $104,330 | $173,010+ | +45% |
| New York, NY | $111,380 | $135,760+ | +55% |
| San Francisco, CA | $104,471 | $128,747+ | +45% |
| Seattle, WA | $104,628 | $128,941+ | +46% |
| Austin, TX | $67,160 | $82,330+ | -7% |
| Boston, MA | $110,410 | $163,030+ | +54% |
| Chicago, IL | $85,680 | $106,880+ | +19% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $96,380 | $127,990+ | +34% |
| Denver, CO | $102,090 | $121,870+ | +42% |
Official Salary Career GPS™
What should I do next as a Biologist?
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Other Science Jobs in Indianapolis
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Biologist salary in Indianapolis, IN?
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), biologists in the Indianapolis metro area earn a median of $104,330 per year (BLS series OEUM002690000000019102913). The top 25% earn $173K+ per year.
What is a good Biologist salary in Indianapolis, IN?
The 75th percentile ($173K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($104K) is above-average for this role in Indianapolis, IN.
How much does a Biologist earn per hour in Indianapolis, IN?
Based on the median annual salary of $104K, a Biologist in Indianapolis, IN earns approximately $50/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$83/hr.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good market for Biologists?
Indianapolis, IN pays 45% above the US national average for this role. BLS projects 6% employment growth for Biologists over 2022–2032, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.
How do I negotiate a higher Biologist salary in Indianapolis, IN?
Cite the BLS P75 figure ($173K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.
What is the entry-level Biologist salary in Indianapolis, IN?
Entry-level Biologists in Indianapolis, IN (10th–25th percentile) earn roughly $69K–$83K per year, rising toward the $104K median with experience and in-demand skills.
What does a senior Biologist earn in Indianapolis, IN?
Senior Biologists in Indianapolis, IN — the top quartile up to the 90th percentile — earn about $173K–$173K per year, with the top 10% making $173K+.
How Is This Salary Calculated?
Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.
Where does the salary data come from?
US metro figures are published estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, which covers roughly 1.1 million employer establishments. Where BLS does not publish a figure for an occupation and area, this site shows a modeled estimate and labels it as one.
How is the Indianapolis figure calculated?
The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Indianapolis, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.
What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?
These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.
How is take-home pay estimated?
Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.
How often is data updated?
US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.
Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.
What a Biologist salary really means in Indianapolis
Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $104,330 median.
Estimated take-home
≈ $6,796/month net
- Gross median
- $104,330
- Income tax
- −$14,794
- Social / FICA
- −$7,981
- Effective rate
- 22%
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.
Rent affordability
of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,046/mo)
The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$2,490/mo), roughly $4,306/mo is left to save or invest.
Cost-of-living estimate for Indianapolis; rent ≈ 42% of budget.
Remote vs onsite
typical fully-remote benchmark range
Onsite Biologists in Indianapolis earn the local median of $104,330. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($71,906) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.
Compare all Biologist markets →How to reach the top 25% as a Biologist in Indianapolis
The gap between a typical Biologist and the top quartile in Indianapolis is $68,680/year — about $5,723/month more than the median. Reaching the 75th percentile ($173,010) usually comes down to seniority, in-demand specialisations, and negotiating from real data instead of hoping for a raise.
Education Premium — Biologist
How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data
Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.
Negotiation Deep-Dive
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Biologist in Other Cities
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Data Source & Attribution
This page’s figures are published estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey , May 2025 release, series OEUM002690000000019102913. Verify them directly at bls.gov/oes. International figures draw on OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, and ILO ILOSTAT.