The Best and Highest-Paying Jobs in Indiana

Indiana State offers career prospects for police officers, commercial pilots, gas plant operators, registered nurses, and many more. The unemployment rate for Indiana since the pandemic has decreased from 3.1 to 2.3 percent in February 2022, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In this article, you will find the highest-paying jobs in Indiana. We will go over the duties of these high-paying jobs and the best jobs in Indiana you can get without a college degree.

Indiana Economic Outlook

According to Indiana University, the economic outlook for this state is positive in the light of recovering from the pandemic. Indiana has hired employees with a distribution of 17.2 percent in nonfarm proprietors, 11.8 percent in healthcare professionals and social services, 13.7 percent in manufacturing, and 9.8 percent in retail trade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The job market in Indiana is ripe for all employment types like gas industry jobs, reactor operator jobs, medical jobs, and manufacturing. You can expect a fair entry-level salary and employment for pump system operators, power distributors, non-retail sales workers, prevention workers, and law enforcement officers.

There are also a handful of jobs for part-time occupations and low-skill jobs. Skilled tradesmen with experience in communications equipment and electronic know-how can also find jobs easily. Some examples are repairer jobs like signal and track switch repairers for the railway services or electronics repairers.

The Highest-Paying Jobs in Indiana

The Best Jobs in Indiana: Explained

We have listed the highest-paying occupations in Indiana and expanded on what these jobs entail. You can read the skills needed, additional skills, and main duties these roles include. Most of these high-paying jobs require a college education, experience, and license or training.

1. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Oral surgeons perform operations for dental implants, jaw realignments, complex extractions, wisdom teeth issues, dental reconstructions, and tumor removals. Maxillofacial surgeons specialize in bones and tissues. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16.5 percent of oral and maxillofacial surgeons are self-employed workers. They also treat patients with sleep apnea and deal with facial trauma and injury.

2. Surgeon

Surgeons perform operations, diagnose patient injuries and illness, discuss surgical options, and develop treatment plans. Surgeons have knowledge of a patient’s medical history and conditions. 

They are also doctors who have received a medical degree after attending medical school. They also must pass licensing exams to practice, but it depends on the state they are living in.

3. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Registered nurses can specialize in administering anesthesia to patients. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are certified professionals that oversee patient recovery and monitor signs of anesthesia in patients.

They can earn a good living in outpatient care centers, substance abuse hospitals, physician offices, and universities. They are knowledgeable in pain management, making medical procedures effective in anesthetics administration, and helping patients recover.

4. Physician

Physicians are responsible for handling patient examinations, assessing the health needs of patients, ordering medical tests for diagnosis, diagnosing issues, and prescribing medications. They counsel treatment plans and monitor the health of patients.

They often manage and work in their own private establishments or work in hospitals. There are about 8,932 active physicians in Indiana with specializations. The state specializes in anesthesiologists, with currently 1,189 and 889 specializing in radiology.

5. Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners can interpret lab test works and x-ray results to diagnose and treat patient illnesses. Nursery practitioners coordinate patient care and are primary caregivers and also provide specialty care.

You can pursue a nursing career by taking online courses and programs in this field. The training and requirements can vary in every state. The employment growth projection for nurse practitioners is 45 percent, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

6. Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents assist in the buying and selling of properties. This is a good side hustle for extra cash, but you must have strong communication skills. You must check the minimum requirements for the state to grant you a license to practice.

You will need some additional skills to advance in this field, like knowledge of sales strategies, marketing skills, and marketing research skills. These are not difficult skills to acquire, but you can dedicate time to improving your professional skills.

7. Sales Manager

A sales manager’s responsibility is to implement successful sales strategies to increase sales figures and achieve sales goals. Sales managers oversee the sales department and teams. They develop training programs for sales agents, assess performance metrics, and analyze sales reports.

8. Material Scientist

Material scientists study natural materials and synthetic materials and conduct research related to their structural and chemical properties. The job of a material scientist extensively involves data analysis of materials. They are familiar with lab equipment, testing, and product improvement.

This is an in-demand field with the rising need for new materials development for better societal, economic, and environmental impacts. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, much work needs to be done to use less material and reuse material to design sustainable products.

9. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

Nuclear power reactor operators are responsible for operating nuclear reactors and making adjustments to their controls. Reactor operator jobs like nuclear power reactor operators don’t need a college education, but you will need to complete extensive training on the job regarding power grids and nuclear power usage to earn a license. The highest-paying employers for this job role are in the utility industry.

10. Distribution Manager

These professionals have managerial duties in logistics and supply chain management. Distribution managers are involved in the planning and coordinating of transportation activities. They oversee how things are stored, distributed, and transported from warehouses and storage areas.

They have good organization skills and also need essential computer skills to keep track of transportation electronically and handle inventory management. They must have good organizational skills and excellent communication skills. You can expect high wages and opportunities to grow, so you must prepare well for a sales manager interview.

Highest-Paying Jobs in Indiana Without a Degree

• Power Plant Operator | $63,169. Power plant operators are trained to operate machinery for electricity production. They work with power generators and distributors.
• Flight Attendant | $72,734. The best airlines are hiring flight attendants, making it a high-paying career without formal education. Flight attendants learn during the job training programs and have good interpersonal skills. Another perk of the job is that you get to travel extensively.
• Firefighter | $52,162. With no formal education required, you can become a firefighter, which is an active job. Firefighters are called to put out fire emergencies and are given special training. They might work irregular hours and long shifts.
• Transportation Inspector | $48,146. A transportation inspector is responsible for checking transportation vehicles for safety. All vehicles must pass inspection for environmental safety and transporting legal material. The transportation inspector makes complaints about any concerns.

What Is the Cost of Living in Indiana?

The cost of living in Indiana in terms of housing is cheaper than the average housing expenditure across the country, which is an average of $21,409. The average annual housing spending is $19,268 in Fort Wayne, $19,268 in Indianapolis, and $19,268 in South Bend.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average personal expenditure of people in Indiana is $35,459 annually. This covers the accommodations, food, healthcare, and recreational expenses per capita.

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Is Indiana a Good Place to Work?

Indiana is a good place to work, with plenty of jobs in diverse career fields. According to the Current Employment Statistics by BLS, South Bend has seen a 6.7 percent increase in leisure and hospitality employment. Between December 2020 to 2021, Indianapolis had a 14.3 percent employment increase in mining and logging jobs.

Indiana has a high employment level for many jobs. The hourly wages are slightly lower in most cities with the exception of California. California has a higher hourly wage than the national figures for occupations, like financial services sales agents, laborers, material movers, stockers, and order fillers, according to BLS.

Highest-Paying Jobs in Indiana FAQ