Lawyers in Indiana. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Indiana lawyers earned a median of $130,120 in 2024, about 13% below the US median of $149,496. That gap is real, but it tells only part of the story.
The average wage was $158,270, well above the median. A smaller group of higher-earning attorneys pulls that figure up, which means the typical Indiana lawyer earns noticeably less than the mean suggests. The spread from the 10th percentile ($69,240) to the 75th ($191,800) runs more than $122,000, so experience level and practice area matter a great deal here. A first-year public defender and a senior partner at a corporate firm both count in this data.
Indiana's cost of living sits about 9% below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the $130,120 median lands closer to $142,700 in national-dollar terms. That closes most of the nominal gap with the US figure.
BLS projects employment for lawyers to grow 4.2% between 2024 and 2034, which falls in the average range across all occupations. Indiana's 8,510 lawyers make it a mid-size legal market by state standards, concentrated in Indianapolis but spread across regional courts, corporate legal departments, and smaller general-practice firms throughout the state.
Salary distribution
Where Indiana lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,120 and $193,420, with a median of $126,860.
Lawyers in Indiana: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 5 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $100,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 3 | $100,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $255,625 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Indiana. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly and Company | Sr. Director - Transactions CoE | 2 | $255,625 |
| CHURCH CHURCH HITTLE AND ANTRIM | Associate Attorney | 1 | $87,000 |
| Lee & Zalas, P.C. | Graduate Legal Intern | 1 | $100,000 |
| University of Notre Dame du Lac | Staff Attorney | 1 | $100,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Staff Attorney at University of Notre Dame du Lac$100,000Notre DameWage Level IDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-571745
- Associate Attorney at CHURCH CHURCH HITTLE AND ANTRIM$87,000NOBLESVILLEWage Level IDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-401905
- Sr. Director - Transactions CoE at Eli Lilly and Company$255,625IndianapolisWage Level IVDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-030054
- Graduate Legal Intern at Lee & Zalas, P.C.$100,000South BendWage Level IDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-024846
- Sr. Director - Transactions CoE at Eli Lilly and Company$255,625IndianapolisWage Level IVDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-030037
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Lawyers pay by experience level in Indiana
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Lawyers in Indiana, by industry
Median offered wage across 5 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $255,625.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Eli Lilly and Company | 2 | $255,625 |
| Professional services | CHURCH CHURCH HITTLE AND ANTRIM | 2 | $93,500 |
| Education | University of Notre Dame du Lac | 1 | $100,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Indiana over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.7 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.6 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- 02
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- 03
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- 04
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- 05
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- 06
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- 07
Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
- 08
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Indiana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Indiana is $126,860.
- How does Indiana compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Indiana median is -20.4% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Indiana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $65,750 and the 90th-percentile at $327,960, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Lawyers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Lawyers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.