DataBank IND2

Indianapolis's economy spans pharmaceuticals (Eli Lilly's global headquarters), insurance (Anthem/Elevance Health), motorsports and logistics (FedEx's second-largest hub), advanced manufacturing, and Salesforce's Midwest hub. Data centers serve those enterprise tenants — six tracked facilities and roughly 1,000 NAICS 518 jobs (estimated). The metro is a steady mid-tier market.

The trades profile is balanced. Electricians at $65,130 and HVAC technicians at $62,160 sit close in median, with the small gap making HVAC competitive given the shorter ramp. The 10,670 maintenance and repair workforce earns $49,520. The standout opportunity outside the data center industry is the broader pharma manufacturing and logistics base, which provides steady commercial demand.

For a trades worker, Indianapolis is a moderate-cost market with steady commercial demand layered onto a small but growing data center footprint. Best fit for HVAC technicians (pharma cleanroom transferability) and electricians wanting Midwest cost of living with reasonable wages.