Helpers--Production Workers Salary
In Indiana, helpers--production workers earn $42,210 at the median, or about $20.29 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $45,975 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,144/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Indiana?
About helpers--production workers
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What this looks like in Indiana
Helpers--production workers pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,144/month, which is 39.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 helpers--production workers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Production Workers salary by metro in Indiana
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $45K | +7% | 80 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $44K | +4% | 40 |
| Terre Haute | $43K | +3% | 50 |
| Fort Wayne | $43K | +3% | 100 |
| Columbus | $42K | +0% | 100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $39K | -9% | 610 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $38K | -9% | 210 |
| Evansville | $37K | -13% | 50 |
| Muncie | $30K | -30% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--production workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--production worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 39.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--production workers in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--production workers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,876/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 61% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--production worker a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for helpers--production workers?
Indiana pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--production workers make in Indiana?
The median is $42,210 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,270, and experienced helpers--production workers can clear $50,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,889/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 39.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--production workers 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 helpers--production workers salary is worth about $45,975 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--production workers 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.