Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Indianapolis
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Indianapolis
Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.
As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

#57. Psychiatric aides
- Annual mean salary: $27,240
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,590
- Employment: 55,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($48,280)
--- Rochester, NY ($45,890)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($45,010)
#56. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $29,790
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
#55. Orderlies
- Annual mean salary: $30,640
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
#54. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $31,280
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
#53. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $31,810
- #219 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
#52. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $32,620
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
#51. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $33,030
- #219 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
#50. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $33,780
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
#49. Psychiatric technicians
- Annual mean salary: $33,970
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
#48. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $35,710
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
#47. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,480
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
#46. Medical transcriptionists
- Annual mean salary: $38,940
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
#45. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $40,150
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
#44. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $42,230
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
#43. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $42,570
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($76,930)
--- Yakima, WA ($72,870)
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($70,090)
#42. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $44,420
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
#41. Recreational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $46,900
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $47,330
- #154 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
#39. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $47,820
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
#38. Exercise physiologists
- Annual mean salary: $49,830
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- Employment: 7,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($184,950)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,760)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($69,300)
#37. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $50,500
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)

#36. Athletic trainers
- Annual mean salary: $50,930
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
#35. Dietetic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $52,880
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
#34. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,700
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
#33. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $56,790
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,790
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
#32. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $59,030
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
#31. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $60,110
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
#30. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $62,640
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,500
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)

#29. Hearing aid specialists
- Annual mean salary: $64,880
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 8,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($91,510)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($77,450)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($75,800)
#28. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $69,770
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
#27. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $70,940
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,720
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
#26. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 26,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#25. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Annual mean salary: $71,020
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
#24. Audiologists
- Annual mean salary: $71,190
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
#23. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $74,710
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
#22. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $76,340
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
#21. Genetic counselors
- Annual mean salary: $78,350
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $84,310
- Employment: 2,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,000)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,210)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($100,580)
#20. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $79,120
- #154 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
#19. Radiation therapists
- Annual mean salary: $80,970
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
#18. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $83,760
- #237 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
#17. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $84,420
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)

#16. Chiropractors
- Annual mean salary: $85,960
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
#15. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $88,220
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
#14. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $96,980
- #264 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

#13. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $103,900
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)

#12. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $106,750
- #199 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
#11. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $110,890
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $108,810
- Employment: 6,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($163,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($156,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($130,140)
#10. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $117,280
- #317 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
#9. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $132,510
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,680
- Employment: 9,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($222,760)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($206,190)
--- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA ($200,200)
#8. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $157,750
- #226 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
#7. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $165,080
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)

#6. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists
- Annual mean salary: $169,230
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $252,040
- Employment: 36,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wausau, WI ($285,230)
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($285,210)
--- Asheville, NC ($284,780)
#5. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $187,220
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)
#4. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $215,420
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)
#3. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $240,460
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
#2. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $252,330
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $233,610
- Employment: 18,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville, NC ($284,520)
--- Akron, OH ($282,650)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($281,800)

#1. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $264,400
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)


