StateRates

Columbus salaries

The median worker in the Columbus, IN metro area earned $46,490 a year in 2024, about $22.35 an hour. That ranks #204 of the 391 metro areas published here, 6.1% below the national median.

Indiana

Median pay $46,490 $22.35 per hour
Vs national -6.1% U.S. $49,500
Workers 50,880 wage and salary
Metro rank #204 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Columbus pays 0.9% less than Indiana as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 14.22× 830 $64,700
Mechanical Engineers 14.17× 1,340 $108,040
Industrial Engineers 10.69× 1,240 $103,240
Machinists 9.31× 920 $55,320
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 5.21× 2,500 $40,640
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 3.2× 620 $44,920
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 2.78× 630 $62,340
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks 1.94× 550 $43,290
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1.32× 1,640 $27,440
Retail Salespersons 1.22× 1,530 $28,690
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1.16× 1,140 $38,010
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1× 510 $48,840

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Columbus
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
General and Operations Managers $109,650 $52.72 590
Mechanical Engineers $108,040 $51.94 1,340
Industrial Engineers $103,240 $49.63 1,240
Software Developers $103,080 $49.56 230
Industrial Production Managers $101,850 $48.96 390
Electricians $80,850 $38.87 270
Accountants and Auditors $79,000 $37.98 370
Registered Nurses $76,160 $36.62 710
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $75,310 $36.21 240
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $73,650 $35.41 480
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians $66,780 $32.11 320
Carpenters $66,040 $31.75 210
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $64,750 $31.13 200
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $64,700 $31.11 830
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $64,290 $30.91 470
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $62,340 $29.97 630
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $62,080 $29.85 470
Human Resources Specialists $58,970 $28.35 340
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $58,460 $28.11 200
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,160 $27.48 570
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $56,950 n/a 370
Machinists $55,320 $26.60 920
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $53,340 $25.65 200
Construction Laborers $52,520 $25.25 300
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $48,840 $23.48 510
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $46,630 $22.42 310
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $46,330 $22.27 260
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $45,310 $21.79 290
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $44,930 $21.60 380
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,920 $21.60 620
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $44,420 $21.36 240
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $43,290 $20.81 550
Customer Service Representatives $43,220 $20.78 590
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $43,060 $20.70 250
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $42,650 $20.50 250
Office Clerks, General $42,490 $20.43 800
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,640 $19.54 2,500
Light Truck Drivers $39,250 $18.87 250
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $38,610 $18.56 220
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $38,090 $18.31 280
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $38,080 $18.31 370
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $38,010 $18.27 1,140
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,610 $18.08 360
Medical Assistants $37,170 $17.87 410
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $37,170 $17.87 400
Nursing Assistants $36,180 $17.39 280
Security Guards $36,100 $17.36 230
Receptionists and Information Clerks $35,510 $17.07 230
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $33,930 $16.31 380
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $32,140 $15.45 780
Stockers and Order Fillers $32,040 $15.41 840
Cooks, Restaurant $30,100 $14.47 350
Food Preparation Workers $28,940 $13.91 210
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners $28,900 $13.90 200
Retail Salespersons $28,690 $13.80 1,530
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary $28,410 n/a 330
Cashiers $28,260 $13.59 850
Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,440 $13.19 1,640
Waiters and Waitresses $24,190 $11.63 520

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Columbus by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2,500 $40,640 $19.54
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,640 $27,440 $13.19
Retail Salespersons 1,530 $28,690 $13.80
Mechanical Engineers 1,340 $108,040 $51.94
Industrial Engineers 1,240 $103,240 $49.63
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,140 $38,010 $18.27
Machinists 920 $55,320 $26.60
Cashiers 850 $28,260 $13.59
Stockers and Order Fillers 840 $32,040 $15.41
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 830 $64,700 $31.11
Office Clerks, General 800 $42,490 $20.43
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 780 $32,140 $15.45
Registered Nurses 710 $76,160 $36.62
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 630 $62,340 $29.97
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 620 $44,920 $21.60
General and Operations Managers 590 $109,650 $52.72
Customer Service Representatives 590 $43,220 $20.78
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 570 $57,160 $27.48
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks 550 $43,290 $20.81
Waiters and Waitresses 520 $24,190 $11.63

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Indiana metro areas

Columbus pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Columbus?

The median across all occupations is $46,490, or $22.35 an hour, covering 50,880 wage and salary workers. The mean is $59,930, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Columbus pay more than the rest of Indiana?

No. The metro median of $46,490 is 0.9% below the Indiana median of $46,930. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Columbus?

General and Operations Managers ($109,650), Mechanical Engineers ($108,040), Industrial Engineers ($103,240). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Columbus unusually full of?

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, at 14.22× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.