Indiana's average nurse practitioner salary of $126,600 places it below Michigan ($132,790) and Illinois ($130,940) but above Kentucky ($125,010), Ohio ($122,910), and Tennessee ($115,510). Employers in Indiana operate in a mid-range regional market, which means candidates with competing offers from Michigan or Illinois may expect a higher number. Anchoring your offer to Indiana's median of $128,830 is a practical way to stay competitive within the state while managing budget.
Nurse practitioner salary in Indiana (2026)
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The average nurse practitioner salary in Indiana is $126,600 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $128,830 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Indiana employs 7,450 nurse practitioners, and the $2,230 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior nurse practitioners in Indiana typically earn around $101,790, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $155,260 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner hire in Indiana, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $128,830 |
Average Annual Salary | $126,600 |
vs. National Average | 7.8% below the national mean of $137,300 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 7,450 employed nurse practitioners across Indiana.
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Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in Indiana
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $101,790 |
25th Percentile | $111,310 |
75th Percentile | $135,990 |
90th Percentile | $155,260 |
Employers setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in Indiana should expect a meaningful spread between entry-level and experienced candidates, with the 10th percentile at $101,790 and senior specialists reaching $155,260 at the 90th percentile. Offers below $111,310 are likely to attract only the least-experienced candidates, so anchoring to the $128,830 median is a practical baseline for most mid-level hires.
Nurse practitioner salary by city in Indiana
City | Average Annual Salary |
Indianapolis | $130,150 |
Bloomington | $126,860 |
South Bend | $124,210 |
Fort Wayne | $123,060 |
Evansville | $118,790 |
Employers hiring in Indianapolis should budget noticeably more than those hiring in Evansville, since location alone accounts for an $11,360 difference in average pay. Indianapolis leads the state at $130,150, while Evansville sits at the bottom of the metro rankings at $118,790. If your role is remote-eligible, the city where the candidate lives can meaningfully affect your compensation budget.
How Indiana compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Indiana | $126,600 | $128,830 |
Michigan | $132,790 | $131,450 |
Illinois | $130,940 | $130,680 |
Kentucky | $125,010 | $122,870 |
Ohio | $122,910 | $124,870 |
Tennessee | $115,510 | $117,590 |
Indiana sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective alternative to Michigan and Illinois without requiring the deep discounts seen in Tennessee. Michigan's average of $132,790 and Illinois's average of $130,940 both exceed Indiana's $126,600, while Kentucky at $125,010 and Ohio at $122,910 come in slightly lower. Employers competing for candidates who have offers from Michigan or Illinois should be prepared to close a gap of roughly $4,000 to $6,000 in average pay.
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in Indiana
How does Indiana compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?
What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in Indiana?
Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in Indiana earn $155,260 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $135,990, so the jump to the top tier reflects a meaningful premium for highly experienced or specialized practitioners. Employers competing for senior talent should budget above $135,990 and expect candidates at the top of the market to approach or exceed $155,260.
What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in Indiana?
The published salary range for nurse practitioners in Indiana runs from $101,790 at the 10th percentile to $155,260 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $111,310 at the 25th percentile and $135,990 at the 75th percentile. When building a compensation band, use that $111,310 to $135,990 range as your core hiring window and adjust up or down based on the seniority of the role you are filling.
What is the average nurse practitioner salary in Indiana?
The average nurse practitioner salary in Indiana is $126,600 per year, which sits 7.8% below the national mean of $137,300. The median of $128,830 is slightly higher than the mean, which tells you the distribution skews toward the lower end rather than being pulled up by outliers. For most hiring decisions, the $128,830 median is the more reliable figure to anchor your initial offer.
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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