Med Lab Scientist Salary

Fort Wayne vs Mishawaka: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary (2026)

Compare medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries between Fort Wayne, IN and Mishawaka, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Fort Wayne, IN
$53,148
$25.54/hr
Mishawaka, IN
$57,285
$27.54/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricFort Wayne, INMishawaka, IN
Median Salary$53,148$57,285
Hourly Rate$25.54$27.54
Entry Level (P10)$41,745$36,743
25th Percentile$43,700$43,939
75th Percentile$67,248$73,325
Top Earner (P90)$88,525$88,792
Total Employed6509
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Fort Wayne ($53,148) and Mishawaka ($57,285) medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries.Fort WayneMishawakaMedian Salary$53,148$57,285Entry Level (P10)$41,745$36,743Top Earner (P90)$88,525$88,792US Median $68,734

Verdict

Mishawaka, IN offers better overall compensation for medical and clinical laboratory technologists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Fort Wayne.

The salary gap between Fort Wayne and Mishawaka is $4,137 (7.78%). Mishawaka's median is -16.66% compared to the US national median of $68,734.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Fort Wayne spans $46,780,Mishawaka spans $52,049. Mishawaka has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Fort Wayne
P10 (Entry)$41,745
P25$43,700
Median$53,148
P75$67,248
P90 (Top)$88,525
Mishawaka
P10 (Entry)$36,743
P25$43,939
Median$57,285
P75$73,325
P90 (Top)$88,792

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Mishawaka ($62,744 effective) pays 9.29% more than Fort Wayne ($57,413 effective).

Fort Wayne
Nominal: $53,148
CoL Index: 92.572
Adjusted: $57,413
Mishawaka
Nominal: $57,285
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $62,744

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Fort Wayne if…

  • Larger job market (650 employed)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Mishawaka if…

  • Higher median salary ($57,285/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($88,792)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $62,744)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical and clinical laboratory technologist salaries in Fort Wayne grew 9.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -5.6% growth in Mishawaka over the same period.

Fort Wayne, IN

+9.9%

$46,950 (2019) → $51,580 (2025)

Mishawaka, IN

+-5.6%

$58,889 (2024) → $55,595 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical and clinical laboratory technologists more: Fort Wayne or Mishawaka?

Mishawaka has a higher median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary at $57,285/year, compared to Fort Wayne at $53,148/year — a difference of $4,137 (7.78%).

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

Fort Wayne medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $25.54/hr while Mishawaka hygienists earn $27.54/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Fort Wayne to Mishawaka as a medical and clinical laboratory technologist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Fort Wayne and Mishawaka. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Fort Wayne = $57,413, Mishawaka = $62,744), job availability (650 vs 9 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn in Fort Wayne vs Mishawaka?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn $41,745 in Fort Wayne and $36,743 in Mishawaka. The Fort Wayne area offers higher starting salaries.

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Written by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP)

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in clinical laboratory science. She specializes in molecular diagnostics. She works at a large metropolitan hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Jerome Patel, BS, MT(ASCP)Data verified by Fatima Hussain, MS, CLS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.04% 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 Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP), a licensed medical and clinical laboratory technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov