Pharmacy Tech Pay

Fort Wayne vs Plainfield: Pharmacy Technician Salary (2026)

Compare pharmacy technician salaries between Fort Wayne, IN and Plainfield, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Fort Wayne, IN
$45,413
$21.84/hr
Plainfield, IN
$44,752
$21.52/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricFort Wayne, INPlainfield, IN
Median Salary$45,413$44,752
Hourly Rate$21.84$21.52
Entry Level (P10)$38,507$35,842
25th Percentile$39,519$38,768
75th Percentile$50,453$47,409
Top Earner (P90)$52,931$56,365
Total Employed6407
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Fort Wayne ($45,413) and Plainfield ($44,752) pharmacy technician salaries.Fort WaynePlainfieldMedian Salary$45,413$44,752Entry Level (P10)$38,507$35,842Top Earner (P90)$52,931$56,365US Median $48,239

Verdict

Fort Wayne, IN offers better overall compensation for pharmacy technicians, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Plainfield.

The salary gap between Fort Wayne and Plainfield is $661 (1.48%). Fort Wayne's median is -5.86% compared to the US national median of $48,239.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Fort Wayne spans $14,424,Plainfield spans $20,523. Plainfield has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced pharmacy technicians.

Fort Wayne
P10 (Entry)$38,507
P25$39,519
Median$45,413
P75$50,453
P90 (Top)$52,931
Plainfield
P10 (Entry)$35,842
P25$38,768
Median$44,752
P75$47,409
P90 (Top)$56,365

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Fort Wayne ($49,057 effective) pays 0.08% more than Plainfield ($49,016 effective).

Fort Wayne
Nominal: $45,413
CoL Index: 92.572
Adjusted: $49,057
Plainfield
Nominal: $44,752
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $49,016

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 ($45,413/year)
  • Larger job market (640 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $49,057)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Plainfield if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($56,365)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, pharmacy technician salaries in Fort Wayne grew 33.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 23.8% growth in Plainfield over the same period.

Fort Wayne, IN

+33.0%

$32,380 (2019) → $43,070 (2025)

Plainfield, IN

+23.8%

$34,285 (2024) → $42,443 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays pharmacy technicians more: Fort Wayne or Plainfield?

Fort Wayne has a higher median pharmacy technician salary at $45,413/year, compared to Plainfield at $44,752/year — a difference of $661 (1.48%).

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

Fort Wayne pharmacy technicians earn $21.84/hr while Plainfield hygienists earn $21.52/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Fort Wayne to Plainfield as a pharmacy technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Fort Wayne and Plainfield. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Fort Wayne = $49,057, Plainfield = $49,016), job availability (640 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level pharmacy technicians earn in Fort Wayne vs Plainfield?

Entry-level (10th percentile) pharmacy technicians earn $38,507 in Fort Wayne and $35,842 in Plainfield. The Fort Wayne area offers higher starting salaries.
ET

Written by Emily Tran, PharmD

Career Analyst

Emily Tran has over 8 years of experience as a pharmacy technician. She specializes in medication therapy management. Her experience includes working in community pharmacies.

Clinically reviewed by David Kim, CPhTData verified by Fatima Hassan, CPhT

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.44% 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 Emily Tran, PharmD, a licensed pharmacy technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov