PA Salary

Fort Wayne vs Zionsville: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Fort Wayne, IN and Zionsville, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Fort Wayne, IN
$135,762
$65.27/hr
Zionsville, IN
$126,103
$60.63/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricFort Wayne, INZionsville, IN
Median Salary$135,762$126,103
Hourly Rate$65.27$60.63
Entry Level (P10)$114,592$94,841
25th Percentile$126,546$112,667
75th Percentile$178,981$151,091
Top Earner (P90)$213,728$171,908
Total Employed2405
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Fort Wayne ($135,762) and Zionsville ($126,103) physician assistant salaries.Fort WayneZionsvilleMedian Salary$135,762$126,103Entry Level (P10)$114,592$94,841Top Earner (P90)$213,728$171,908US Median $140,391

Verdict

Fort Wayne, IN offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Zionsville.

The salary gap between Fort Wayne and Zionsville is $9,659 (7.66%). Fort Wayne's median is -3.30% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Fort Wayne spans $99,136,Zionsville spans $77,067. Fort Wayne has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Fort Wayne
P10 (Entry)$114,592
P25$126,546
Median$135,762
P75$178,981
P90 (Top)$213,728
Zionsville
P10 (Entry)$94,841
P25$112,667
Median$126,103
P75$151,091
P90 (Top)$171,908

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Fort Wayne ($146,656 effective) pays 6.18% more than Zionsville ($138,119 effective).

Fort Wayne
Nominal: $135,762
CoL Index: 92.572
Adjusted: $146,656
Zionsville
Nominal: $126,103
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $138,119

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Fort Wayne if…

  • Higher median salary ($135,762/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($213,728)
  • Larger job market (240 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $146,656)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Zionsville if…

  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Fort Wayne grew 22.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 17.9% growth in Zionsville over the same period.

Fort Wayne, IN

+22.9%

$106,900 (2019) → $131,400 (2025)

Zionsville, IN

+17.9%

$103,503 (2024) → $122,051 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Fort Wayne or Zionsville?

Fort Wayne has a higher median physician assistant salary at $135,762/year, compared to Zionsville at $126,103/year — a difference of $9,659 (7.66%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Fort Wayne and Zionsville?

Fort Wayne physician assistants earn $65.27/hr while Zionsville hygienists earn $60.63/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Fort Wayne to Zionsville as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Fort Wayne and Zionsville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Fort Wayne = $146,656, Zionsville = $138,119), job availability (240 vs 5 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Fort Wayne vs Zionsville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $114,592 in Fort Wayne and $94,841 in Zionsville. The Fort Wayne area offers higher starting salaries.
JT

Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C

Career Analyst

Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov