How Much Does an RN Make in Indiana in 2026?

A typical registered nurse in Indiana earns about $40.14 per hour, or $83,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $6,958 a month and $1,606 a week, figures calculated from the annual median. These numbers describe typical pay across the state, before accounting for city or experience differences.

Indiana's typical RN pay sits 14 percent below the national figure of $97,550 a year, placing the state 36th among the 51 states and territories ranked. Indiana employs 68,980 registered nurses, a large enough workforce to shape pay data across many cities. Lower pay compared with the national figure often lines up with a lower cost of living in much of the state.

Entry-level positions in Indiana typically offer around $32.09 an hour, or about $66,750 a year, for registered nurses just starting out. Pay typically rises toward the statewide typical figure of $83,500 within the first several years on the job. New nurses in Indiana can expect this lower starting range regardless of which city they work in, though local pay levels still vary.

Experienced registered nurses in Indiana often earn upwards of $48.28 an hour ($100,410 a year), and the top 10 percent of earners make over $50.84 an hour, or $105,750 a year. That leaves a $39,000 spread between entry-level and top pay in the state. Setting, years of experience, and the city where a nurse works all tend to separate the two ends of that range.

Indiana's registered nurse pay has climbed from $57,890 in 2015 to $83,500 in 2025, a gain of $25,610 over the decade. That amounts to a 44 percent rise in typical pay over ten years. The increase has been fairly steady, with the sharpest jumps coming in 2022 and 2023.

Nationally, typical RN pay rose 45 percent over the same decade, a pace close to Indiana's own gain. Pay for registered nurses in Indiana has moved up substantially over the past ten years, though past growth does not guarantee future increases. Someone starting a nursing career in Indiana today is entering a field where typical pay has climbed steadily since 2015.

Registered nurse pay runs highest in the Naperville area, where typical pay reaches $100,490 a year ($48.31 an hour), about 20 percent above the statewide figure. The Mishawaka and South Bend area follows at $93,540 a year, and the Goshen and Elkhart area pays $88,100 a year. These figures cover each area's full metro region, not just the city center.

At the other end, the Columbus area pays registered nurses the least in the state, with typical pay of $77,030 a year, a spread of $23,460 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas. The Naperville area, already the top payer, also holds the largest registered nurse workforce in Indiana, with 100,240 employed there. Higher-paying areas often carry a higher cost of living, which narrows the real difference in take-home value.

Indiana's typical registered nurse pay trails Illinois by 15 percent ($95,990 a year) and Michigan by 13 percent ($94,300 a year), Indiana's two highest-paying neighbors. Ohio pays close to Indiana's figure, just 1 percent lower at $82,510 a year, and Kentucky runs 3 percent below Indiana at $81,040 a year. Nursing licenses can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which makes comparing pay across the border a practical step for nurses weighing a move.

A typical registered nurse in Indiana earns $83,500 a year, up 44 percent from $57,890 a decade ago. Readers considering a nursing career in Indiana can check the state licensing or nursing registry page for education and licensing requirements, and the city pages on this site for local pay figures in places like Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or South Bend. Pay varies by city and experience, so local research is worth the time.