Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Fort Wayne, IN: $64,062 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Fort Wayne, IN earns a median $64,062/year (≈ $30.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Fort Wayne's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.6), that paycheck buys what $69,202 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% above the Indiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the physical therapist assistant salary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is projected to reach $64,062, which reflects a decline compared to the national median salary of $70,247. The annual pay range for PTAs in the area spans from $43,927 at the 10th percentile to $78,332 at the 90th percentile. This information comes directly from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys and highlights the distinct challenges faced by PTAs in Fort Wayne. The local job market has been significantly affected by recent Medicare cuts, particularly impacting settings like skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and altering the demand trends between outpatient and SNF environments. As a result, the dynamics of pay vary across service settings, prompting many PTAs to consider employment in outpatient clinics or hospital environments to maximize their earning potential.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,927 | $21.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,742 | $23.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,062 | $30.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,524 | $36.79 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $78,332 | $37.66 |
Median Salary Position
8.8% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fort Wayne
In Fort Wayne, IN, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,405 (2026 est.). At $64,062, the local median is 8.8% below the national median of $70,247.
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At 40 hours/week in Fort Wayne: You'd be above the median
How Fort Wayne Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Fort Wayne median: $64,062/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fort Wayne Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Average | $63,744 | +0.50% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | -8.80% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Fort Wayne, IN earn a median of $64,062 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.80% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 0.50% above the Indiana state average of $63,744.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fort Wayne has a cost of living 7.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fort Wayne, IN has a cost-of-living index of 92.572 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $64,062 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,202 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.02% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$53,110
2025 BLS Actual
$62,360
2026 Current Est.
$64,062
2019–2027 Growth
+23.9%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Fort Wayne (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $53,110 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,660 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,180 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,990 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,690 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,570 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,360 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,062 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,811 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fort Wayne metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 17.4% from $53,110 (2019) to $62,360 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,811 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,701 (23.91%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Wayne metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.73% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $43,927 – $49,742 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,742 – $64,062 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,062 – $76,524 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,524 – $78,332 |
PTA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Assistant Job Market in Fort Wayne
A robust employment presence of approximately 230 physical therapist assistants exists in Fort Wayne, setting the groundwork for a competitive but nuanced job market. The local cost of living index of 92.572 indicates that residents face a lower living expense than the national average, impacting take-home purchasing power for PTAs. Outpatient orthopedic clinics and hospital inpatient rehab facilities tend to offer higher salaries compared to home health agencies and pediatric clinics. Factors driving salary disparities include productivity expectations and the effects of the 15% Medicare cut, which has particularly influenced pay scales in SNFs and outpatient settings. To enhance their compensation, PTAs in Fort Wayne can seek roles in environments that offer a higher pay scale, consider weekend or PRN shifts for premium pay, and pursue further education, such as PTA-to-DPT bridge pathways, to elevate their career and earning prospects within the dynamic healthcare landscape.
More salary data for Fort Wayne, IN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, DPT
Career Analyst
Jordan has 10 years of experience in outpatient physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Jordan works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $62,360 for physical therapist assistantsin the Fort Wayne metropolitan area. A 2.73% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.73%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapist assistants (SOC 31-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, DPT, a licensed physical therapist assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov