Chemical Engineers Salary
Chemical Engineers in Indiana make a median of $113,160 a year, or about $54.41 an hour. The range runs from $90K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $123,255 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 15.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $113K get you in Indiana?
About chemical engineers
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What this looks like in Indiana
Chemical engineers pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $113K locally vs. $125K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 16.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level chemical engineers (10th percentile) start around $90K. Mid-career wages sit at $113K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Engineers salary by metro in Indiana
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $121K | +7% | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $118K | +4% | N/A |
| Columbus | $109K | -4% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track chemical engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $113K, rent takes 16.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemical engineers in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical engineers typically earn — is $90K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,399/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is chemical engineer a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $113K locally vs. $125K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for chemical engineers?
Indiana pays $113K median vs. the U.S. average of $125K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $123K — below the national median.
How much do chemical engineers make in Indiana?
The median is $113,160 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $89,990, and experienced chemical engineers can clear $135,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $113K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,045/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 16.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical engineers salary go in Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemical engineers salary is worth about $123,255 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.