Police Officer Salary

Fort Wayne vs Granger: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Fort Wayne, IN and Granger, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Fort Wayne, IN
$81,634
$39.25/hr
Granger, IN
$71,799
$34.51/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricFort Wayne, INGranger, IN
Median Salary$81,634$71,799
Hourly Rate$39.25$34.51
Entry Level (P10)$63,403$48,025
25th Percentile$76,635$57,559
75th Percentile$81,634$91,039
Top Earner (P90)$93,156$105,476
Total Employed8207
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Fort Wayne ($81,634) and Granger ($71,799) police officer salaries.Fort WayneGrangerMedian Salary$81,634$71,799Entry Level (P10)$63,403$48,025Top Earner (P90)$93,156$105,476US Median $78,542

Verdict

Fort Wayne, IN offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Granger.

The salary gap between Fort Wayne and Granger is $9,835 (13.70%). Fort Wayne's median is +3.94% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Fort Wayne spans $29,753,Granger spans $57,451. Granger has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Fort Wayne
P10 (Entry)$63,403
P25$76,635
Median$81,634
P75$81,634
P90 (Top)$93,156
Granger
P10 (Entry)$48,025
P25$57,559
Median$71,799
P75$91,039
P90 (Top)$105,476

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Fort Wayne ($88,184 effective) pays 12.14% more than Granger ($78,641 effective).

Fort Wayne
Nominal: $81,634
CoL Index: 92.572
Adjusted: $88,184
Granger
Nominal: $71,799
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $78,641

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 ($81,634/year)
  • Larger job market (820 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $88,184)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Granger if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($105,476)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Fort Wayne grew 36.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 28.3% growth in Granger over the same period.

Fort Wayne, IN

+36.9%

$57,870 (2019) → $79,210 (2025)

Granger, IN

+28.3%

$54,282 (2024) → $69,667 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Fort Wayne or Granger?

Fort Wayne has a higher median police officer salary at $81,634/year, compared to Granger at $71,799/year — a difference of $9,835 (13.70%).

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

Fort Wayne police officers earn $39.25/hr while Granger hygienists earn $34.51/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Fort Wayne to Granger as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Fort Wayne and Granger. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Fort Wayne = $88,184, Granger = $78,641), job availability (820 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Fort Wayne vs Granger?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $63,403 in Fort Wayne and $48,025 in Granger. The Fort Wayne area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.06% 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 Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov