Indiana
How much does it cost to hire a plumber’s helper in Indiana?
Short answer: a full-time plumber’s helper in Indiana paid $21.02 an hour costs $48,456.80 a year in this worked example, or $23.30 per paid hour. That uses official 2026 federal tax rates, Indiana’s typical new-employer SUTA, the ICRB class 5183 minimum premium, and public Gusto Simple pricing. The wage is derived from the national BLS mean, not an Indiana-only survey, so local pay may differ.
Key takeaways
- Indiana SUTA is typically 2.50% on the first $9,500 of wages, or $237.50, per the Indiana DWD rate computation page and the January 2026 DOL state unemployment insurance laws table.
- Workers’ comp uses the ICRB / NCCI advisory rates effective January 1, 2026 for class 5183 at $0.924 per $100 of payroll, with a $451 minimum premium. In this example the minimum applies.
- These are planning estimates, not a tax bill or an insurance quote.
On this page
Open the Indiana plumbing calculator Prefills $21.02 an hour, 40 hours, Indiana, plumbing, and the ICRB minimum premium.
Open the calculator with these figuresWage used in this example
The BLS OEWS May 2025 national table reports a May 2025 annual mean wage of $43,730 for helpers of pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters. That is a national figure. Expressed as an hourly rate over 2,080 hours, it is $21.02, rounded to the cent. The table uses $21.02 × 2,080 = $43,721.60. If Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or a rural county pays a different rate, change the wage; the tax and insurance math will follow.
Worked Indiana example
Every line below is a verified 2026 figure except the wage derivation just described and the payroll-software price, which is Gusto’s public Simple-plan price for one person, annualized, as used across this site.
| Line (one year, 2,080 hours) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wages at $21.02/hour | $43,721.60 |
| Employer Social Security, 6.2% | $2,710.74 |
| Employer Medicare, 1.45% | $633.96 |
| FUTA, net 0.6% on first $7,000 | $42.00 |
| Indiana SUTA, typical new-employer 2.50% on first $9,500 | $237.50 |
| Workers’ comp, ICRB class 5183 minimum premium (computed premium $403.99) | $451.00 |
| Payroll software (Gusto Simple public price, 1 person) | $660.00 |
| Estimated annual cost | $48,456.80 |
| Per paid hour | $23.30 |
The computed workers’ comp premium is $43,721.60 ÷ 100 × $0.924 = $403.99, which is below the filing’s $451 minimum, so the minimum is used. That minimum is an advisory figure from the rating bureau, not a promise from a carrier. See what class 5183 means and the Indiana workers’ comp guide. The Board’s Who Is Eligible page says most businesses must have coverage and that an employee is covered from the first day on the job.
Registrations that go with the cost
Before the first day, you need a federal EIN, Indiana withholding registration with DOR, a DWD unemployment account, a workers’ comp policy, and new-hire reporting within 20 days. Those steps are listed, with official links, in Indiana first-employee registrations. Employer payroll taxes alone, without insurance or software, are explained in Indiana employer payroll taxes for a first employee.
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Change the wage or hours Same Indiana plumbing defaults, ready for a different offer or a part-time schedule.
Open the calculator with these figuresFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a plumber's helper in Indiana?
Using a $21.02 wage drawn from the BLS May 2025 national mean for plumbers' helpers, a full-time Indiana hire costs $43,721.60 in wages, $3,344.70 in employer FICA, $42 in net FUTA, $237.50 in typical new-employer Indiana SUTA, $451 in workers' comp after the ICRB class 5183 minimum premium is applied, and $660 of payroll software, for a total of $48,456.80, or $23.30 per paid hour. Local pay may differ from the national mean.
What workers' comp class applies to an Indiana plumber's helper?
Plumbing work is commonly classified under NCCI class 5183. The ICRB advisory filing effective January 1, 2026 lists a rate of $0.924 per $100 of payroll and a minimum premium of $451. Those are advisory figures, not a binder. A helper doing plumbing work is generally in the same class as the plumbing operation; confirm the class with your agent.
Does Indiana require workers' comp for one helper?
The Indiana Worker's Compensation Board says most businesses must have coverage and that an employee is covered from the first day on the job. Confirm any exemption in the current statute and with the Board before the first day of work.
Federal figures were checked against 2026 IRS Publication 15 and the linked official pages in November 2026. Rows marked hypothetical are examples only. State rules and rates vary; confirm with your state agencies, an insurance agent, and your accountant before you hire.