25 of the Highest Paying Jobs in Indiana for 2026

The top jobs in Indiana can pay up to $147,500 per year

High Paying Indiana Jobs

• Pilot Car Driver

  Salary range: $95,200 - $147,500

  As a pilot car driver, your responsibilities may differ depending on the field in which you work. Many pilot car drivers, also known as escort vehicle drivers, work in the transport or freight industry, and their duties are to escort oversized trucks or trucks carrying large loads while on the road. Your duties include communicating with the truck driver and surveying the roads before a trip to ensure they can handle oversized loads. In the aviation industry, pilot car drivers help guide aircraft around the tarmac.

• Drone Pilot

  Salary range: $95,200 - $147,500

  The primary responsibilities of a drone pilot are to control and maintain an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). You can find drone pilot positions with both the military and other governmental organizations, as well as private companies, such as agricultural operations, film and television production companies, surveyors and mapping specialists, and environmental scientists. As a pilot, you perform a variety of duties, such as flying reconnaissance and taking aerial photography and aerial videography. In the military context, drone pilots operate UAVs which bomb targets from across the world.

• Nurse Practitioner

  Salary range: $102,800 - $142,700

  Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with additional responsibilities including prescribing medication, examining patients, diagnosing illnesses, and providing treatment, much as physicians do. Nurse practitioners are educated and trained to provide health care services, such as the diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and chronic conditions.

• Pharmacist

  Salary range: $110,900 - $133,200

  A Pharmacist fills orders for prescription medications and instructs patients on how to take them. They may work in community or hospital pharmacies, universities, prisons, or for pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacists are responsible for monitoring patient prescriptions to ensure there are no drug interactions or other impacts on existing conditions. They inform patients of potential side effects and may offer immunizations, and should also be aware of the potential for prescription drug abuse. Pharmacists also need to understand insurance coding and how to process claims for patients. Outside of a pharmacy, they may work in other healthcare locations providing patients with medicinal and wellness information.

• Power Lineman

  Salary range: $65,700 - $129,400

  As a power lineman, your job is to support the operations of utilities by installing and maintaining electrical lines. As part of your role, you may do construction work to fix or replace lines, use equipment to reach areas in need of repair, and teach an apprentice how to do the job. You also identify defective elements in a system, inspect and test power lines and related equipment, climb poles and transmission towers, and work in severe weather conditions. Following disasters like storms or earthquakes, you may work extended shifts if necessary.

• Pmhnp

  Salary range: $119,900 - $128,500

  As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, often shortened to PMHNP, your job is to help diagnose mental health conditions in a patient and prescribe the best course of treatment. As part of this, you may use multiple assessment exams to identify the condition, research treatment strategies, or talk with the patient to better understand their unique history and needs. Unlike most other mental health practitioners, you also perform physical assessments and diagnostic exams instead of focusing exclusively on the mind. PMHNPs may work in a clinic, but you can also find this job in hospitals and other advanced care facilities.

• Java Developer

  Salary range: $97,100 - $125,600

  Java developers create dynamic computer applications and websites using the Java computer programming language. The Java language integrates with other programming languages and infrastructures to build robust business applications and software for a wide range of industries, from finance and healthcare to content management and social media. Java developers may be involved in all stages of application development, from conception and design to testing, production, and ongoing maintenance. The goal is to provide efficient solutions for business needs.

• Podcast Producer

  Salary range: $118,000 - $119,900

  As a podcast producer, your job is to oversee the production of a podcast. In this role, you may act as a sound engineer as well. You help manage the recording studio, determine the story of each podcast, use equipment to edit the content, and evaluate content pitches from the hosts of the podcast. Podcast producers also fulfill a variety of other duties, such as interviewing sources, fact-checking, managing talent, and ensuring all new podcasts meet internal deadlines. Some podcast producers coach guests and manage relations with publishing partners.

• Respiratory Therapist

  Salary range: $59,900 - $106,100

  Respiratory therapists are medical workers and typically work in a hospital or similar healthcare facility setting. They care for patients with emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, chest trauma, and cardiac failure. When working with patients, they conduct an examination to gain an understanding of any existing breathing issues that the patient may have. This examination may be as simple as a conversation-style interview, or it may be slightly more in-depth with various diagnostic tests. Once they have an understanding of the potential respiratory issues or risks, the respiratory therapist works with a physician to develop a patient treatment plan. Similar to other medical professionals, respiratory therapists are expected to work with their patients throughout the entire treatment process: monitoring, recording, and evaluating their progress.

• Qa Analyst

  Salary range: $56,600 - $98,000

  Quality Assurance (QA) analysts test products to ensure they meet the standards expected by the manufacturer. There are QA analysts in many types of businesses, but many analysts work in the software industry. They are critical members of a software development team. As a software QA analyst, you check for bugs or other errors, ensure the user experience is positive, and examine software to ensure it is fully functional before launch. You meticulously document your testing process and your findings so that the developers can fix errors and make adjustments errors quickly and effectively.

• Videographer

  Salary range: $42,300 - $69,500

  As a professional Videographer, you capture live events, such as weddings or professional conferences, utilizing video recording and sound equipment. You are responsible for selecting the equipment that best suits the event and venue to capture it in the manner desired by your client. Videographers must also maintain and repair cameras and sound equipment as needed and may need to manage a crew as well, depending on the size of the production.

• Welding

  Salary range: $46,200 - $67,600

  Welding jobs are any jobs that include metal welding as a significant part of the work. There are many different fields that require welders, including manufacturing and construction. As a welder, you are trained to use a number of hand-held and automated tools to complete jobs. You use these tools to cut or fuse together metal parts. Other related positions include cutting, soldering, and brazing jobs. Other fields that have a significant welding component include ironwork and sheet metal work.

• Hotshot Driver

  Salary range: $44,059 - $67,026

  A hotshot driver is a truck driver whose responsibilities are to haul and deliver freight to a customer. In this career, you usually drive a pickup truck with a trailer or other specialized hauling equipment, but you may also operate a larger vehicle. Your primary duties are to expedite delivery of equipment or freight to your client. For example, you may haul essential equipment to distant locations in oil fields or to remote areas where power stations or other utilities are in need of equipment to keep service running. Many hotshot drivers operate as independent contractors.

• Wildlife Biologist

  Salary range: $43,300 - $66,100

  Wildlife biology is the study of animals in their natural habitat. A wildlife biologist, also called a zoologist, conducts studies to understand animal populations in their natural habitat. They keep records, organize and present findings, and run experiments. Wildlife biologists may also work for governments or animal advocacy groups, making recommendations for policies and advocating for habitat protections. Wildlife biologists may get to interact with animals to identify their needs, so this is one of the top jobs for animal lovers.

• Firefighter

  Salary range: $43,300 - $65,700

  Firefighters respond to emergency fire calls. They monitor phones and radios for emergencies, drive fire trucks and other emergency vehicles, put out fires, and find and rescue victims in burning buildings or other emergency situations. Many Firefighters are also paramedics and may be called to assist on emergency medical calls.

• Electrician

  Salary range: $47,600 - $65,200

  Electricians maintain, repair, and install electrical systems. Their specific job duties vary, depending on their company, industry, and location. As an electrician, your general responsibilities may include rewiring or installing wiring and equipment, inspecting electrical service panels or fuse boxes for safety issues, and identifying the source of power outages. All construction projects need Electricians to wire power sources correctly and to check for safety boundaries with power lines. Those who work in large commercial or industrial companies may maintain and repair large motors and generators. Supervising Electricians are responsible for training and overseeing the staff of Electricians at a company.

• Physical Education Teacher

  Salary range: $42,800 - $58,000

  As a Physical Education Teacher, you will prepare and teach lessons on health, nutrition, and fitness. You may work with students of all ages, from pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. If you work with younger children, one of your primary responsibilities is to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle by leading fun, activity-based exercises that keep your students engaged. If you work with older students, your job duties include teaching lessons on health science and physical fitness along with possibly coaching sports.

• Art Teacher

  Salary range: $42,300 - $57,100

  An art teacher is responsible for instructing art projects and teaching art history lessons. Courses can range in age from elementary school to adult-level classes. Art teachers are employed by public and private schools to instill a love of art and encourage creativity. In upper-level classes, they also teach art history, exposing students to numerous eras of art, different styles, and various techniques and mediums. Art teachers also instruct in community centers, extended education classes, and in some therapy groups.

• Heavy Equipment Operator

  Salary range: $38,500 - $53,300

  Heavy Equipment Operator jobs require the safe and proper use of various types of heavy machinery in a large construction or demolition environment. The tasks of a Heavy Equipment Operator vary depending on the type of job and machinery. Examples of heavy equipment include bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and backhoes. Heavy equipment operators most commonly work in construction, oil and gas pipelines, and logging.

• Animal Science

  Salary range: $34,300 - $49,500

  Animal science jobs include veterinarians, biologists, agricultural researchers, and livestock management positions. There are also opportunities in nutrition, breeding, animal behavior, food processing and manufacturing, and education. Your duties in an animal science job may vary significantly depending on the position. As a veterinarian, for example, your primary responsibilities are to provide medical care for animals, but you may also aid in research to support clinical breakthroughs, herd health, and other facets of animal science.

• Doula

  Salary range: $41,400 - $48,500

  A doula is professionally trained to guide and support families during the life-changing experience of having a baby. Doulas have undergone the training to help a mother in labor, as well as during and after childbirth, to achieve the most satisfying and safe birthing experience. Job duties include providing constant emotional and physical support throughout the process, creating birth plans, and providing information. Doulas begin working with a family a few months before a child is born to have a positive impact on the later-stage pregnancy and birthing process, making this a rewarding career in the medical field.

• Dyer

  Salary range: $25,310 - $47,340

  The job responsibilities of a dyer revolve around adding color to fabric and apparel. Dyers usually work in the textile industry. Your job duties in this career include working to weigh, measure, and mix dyes so that the resulting color is accurate. You may add water, additional color, or substances like bleach to adjust the color tones. You operate dyeing equipment and inspect the final product after it dries to ensure quality and to make sure that any patterns required in the fabric are visible.

• Emt

  Salary range: $33,800 - $44,700

  Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are typically the first medical professionals who respond to emergency calls, performing the first step in life-saving care to an injured or sick patient. They transport patients to hospital emergency rooms quickly and safely, and keep patients stable with the help of paramedics. EMTs are also responsible for moving patients between facilities.

• Courier Driver

  Salary range: $31,900 - $43,300

  Courier drivers are responsible for delivering packages and documents for various institutions, businesses, government agencies, and individuals by vehicle. They pick up documents and packages from a customer's location and then deliver them to their designated addresses within the local area.

• Medical Courier

  Salary range: $30,000 - $38,100

  As a medical courier, your responsibilities are to transport lab specimens and other products and equipment between laboratories, medical facilities, and suppliers. You pick up organs or other items that have special transportation needs, examine medical records, deliver products within a time limit, and perform a variety of other tasks to ensure pharmaceutical companies have what they need. You may also use vehicles like pickup trucks or vans to transport pharmaceuticals, X-rays, office mail, and related materials. Other duties include driving in varying weather conditions, using a scanner to track items, and conducting vehicle inspections. Some medical couriers use specialized vehicles or travel long distances with specimens, devices, or organs.