How Much Does a CNA Make in Indianapolis, IN in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Indianapolis, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Indiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · Indianapolis · Carmel · Greenwood metro area
A typical CNA in Indianapolis, Indiana earns $18.69 per hour, or $38,880 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,240 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,430, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,230.
That pay is 1% above the Indiana figure of $38,330 and 8% below the national figure of $42,260. Indianapolis ranks 3rd of 14 metro areas in Indiana for CNA pay. About 9,730 CNAs work in the Indianapolis · Carmel · Greenwood area. Indianapolis is part of the Indianapolis · Carmel · Greenwood metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Carmel and Greenwood share these figures.
CNA pay in Indianapolis at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.69 an hour, or $38,880 a year.
- That is 1% above the Indiana figure, ranking 3rd of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,430; the top 10% make over $47,230.
- Typical pay rose +58% from 2015 to 2025, against +63% for Indiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Indianapolis?
Pay in Indianapolis runs from entry-level positions at around $17.51 an hour to more than $22.71 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Indiana and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Indianapolis
| Career stage | Indianapolis | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,430$17.51 an hour | $35,390$17.01 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,500$18.03 an hour | $37,020$17.80 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,880$18.69 an hour | $38,330$18.43 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,010$21.64 an hour | $44,420$21.36 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,230$22.71 an hour | $46,890$22.54 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Indianapolis · Carmel · Greenwood area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Indianapolis
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Indianapolis · Carmel · Greenwood area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Indianapolis was $24,600 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,880, a change of +58%, compared with +63% for Indiana over the same years.
How Indianapolis compares with other Indiana cities
Elgin pays CNAs the most in Indiana at $46,940 a year, $8,060 more than Indianapolis. The lowest-paying area in the state is Terre Haute at $36,360.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Indianapolis | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elgin metro incl. Naperville | $46,940 | $22.57 | +21% | 45,850 |
| 2 | Jefferson County | $42,220 | $20.30 | +9% | 7,650 |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $38,880 | $18.69 | this city | 9,730 |
| 4 | Mishawaka metro incl. South Bend | $38,550 | $18.54 | -1% | 1,520 |
| 5 | Michigan City metro incl. La Porte | $38,400 | $18.46 | -1% | 340 |
| 6 | Columbus | $38,260 | $18.39 | -2% | 230 |
| 7 | Kokomo | $38,250 | $18.39 | -2% | 460 |
| 8 | Goshen metro incl. Elkhart | $38,150 | $18.34 | -2% | 840 |
| 9 | Lafayette metro incl. West Lafayette | $37,760 | $18.16 | -3% | 770 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne | $37,210 | $17.89 | -4% | 3,610 |
| 11 | Evansville | $37,180 | $17.87 | -4% | 2,030 |
| 12 | Muncie | $37,080 | $17.83 | -5% | 700 |
| 13 | Bloomington | $36,820 | $17.70 | -5% | 830 |
| 14 | Terre Haute | $36,360 | $17.48 | -6% | 720 |
Every metro area in Indiana with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Indiana typical pay $38,330
Is Indianapolis a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Indianapolis earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,880 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Indianapolis · Carmel · Greenwood area, about 8.8 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Indianapolis, IN?
- A typical CNA in Indianapolis earns $38,880 a year, or $18.69 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,430 and the top 10% earn over $47,230.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Indianapolis?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Indianapolis is $18.69. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.51, and the top 10% earn over $22.71 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Indianapolis?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Indianapolis typically offer around $17.51 an hour, or $36,430 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Indianapolis higher than in the rest of Indiana?
- Indianapolis pay is 1% above the Indiana figure of $38,330 a year, ranking 3rd of 14 metro areas in the state. Elgin pays the most in Indiana at $46,940.