Biomedical Engineer salary

Q: How much does a biomedical engineer make?

The median biomedical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $100,730 per year. Most biomedical engineers earn between $60,490 and $158,040, and top earners (90th percentile) make $158,040 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

Q: How much do entry-level biomedical engineers make?

Entry-level biomedical engineers (0–2 years) earn about $78,500 per year, rising to roughly $109,000 at mid-level and $136,000+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Q: Do biomedical engineers make good money?

Yes. The median biomedical engineer salary of $100,730 is 14% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced biomedical engineers can earn $158,040 or more.

Q: Which cities pay biomedical engineers the most?

Estimated biomedical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($149,080), San Francisco ($143,037), Seattle ($130,949). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

Verified

Updated January 2025

Biomedical engineers design medical devices, equipment, and software that combine engineering with biology and medicine.

Median pay

$100,730

U.S. typical

Top earners

$158,040

90th percentile

Entry level

$78,500

0–2 yrs

Senior

$136,000

15+ yrs

The median biomedical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $100,730 per year. Entry-level pay starts near $60,490, while top earners (90th percentile) make $158,040 or more. Add your city and experience for a sharper, local number.

Median annual wage

$100,730

Mean

$106,040

10th pct · $60,49090th pct · $158,040

What biomedical engineers do

Design medical devices and instrumentation, evaluate device safety and efficacy, and work with clinicians and regulators.

Biomedical engineers design medical devices, equipment, and software that combine engineering with biology and medicine.

What affects biomedical engineer pay

▹Medical device vs. research vs. clinical setting
▹Regulatory (FDA) experience
▹Advanced degrees
▹Years of experience
▹Metro cost of labor

Biomedical Engineer salary by experience

Pay typically climbs from about $78,500 for entry level engineers to $136,000+ at the principal / staff level.

Entry level 0–2 yrs

$78,500

Early career 3–5 yrs

$94,500

Mid level 6–9 yrs

$109,000

Senior 10–14 yrs

$123,000

Principal / Staff 15+ yrs

$136,000

Your actual offer depends on company, location, and specialization — run the calculator for a tailored range.

Highest-paying cities for biomedical engineers

Estimated biomedical engineer pay in the top-paying metros, vs the national median.

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Metro	State	Median	90th pct	vs U.S.	Data
San Jose California	CA	$149,080	$233,899	+48%	Estimate
San Francisco California	CA	$143,037	$224,417	+42%	Estimate
Seattle Washington	WA	$130,949	$205,452	+30%	Estimate
New York City New York	NY	$126,920	$199,130	+26%	Estimate
Boston Massachusetts	MA	$122,891	$192,809	+22%	Estimate
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia	DC	$120,876	$189,648	+20%	Estimate
Los Angeles California	CA	$118,861	$186,487	+18%	Estimate
San Diego California	CA	$115,839	$181,746	+15%	Estimate

Biomedical Engineer salary by state

State	Est. median	Est. 90th pct
California	$124,905	$195,970
Texas	$104,759	$164,362
New York	$114,832	$180,166
Washington	$118,861	$186,487
Massachusetts	$116,847	$183,326

State figures are estimates — open a state for its full city-by-city breakdown.

Biomedical Engineer salary — frequently asked questions

How much does a biomedical engineer make?

The median biomedical engineer salary in the U.S. is about $100,730 per year. Most biomedical engineers earn between $60,490 and $158,040, and top earners (90th percentile) make $158,040 or more. These national figures come from published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS) wage data.

What is the highest biomedical engineer salary?

Top-earning biomedical engineers (90th percentile) make about $158,040 or more nationally. In the highest-paying metros, estimated pay can run even higher — for example around $149,080 in San Jose. Metro figures are cost-of-labor estimates, not direct BLS metro data.

How much do entry-level biomedical engineers make?

Entry-level biomedical engineers (0–2 years) earn about $78,500 per year, rising to roughly $109,000 at mid-level and $136,000+ at the principal/staff level. These by-experience figures are modeled estimates based on typical engineering career progression.

Do biomedical engineers make good money?

Yes. The median biomedical engineer salary of $100,730 is 14% below the roughly $116,537 median across engineering occupations, and experienced biomedical engineers can earn $158,040 or more.

Which cities pay biomedical engineers the most?

Estimated biomedical engineer pay is highest in San Jose ($149,080), San Francisco ($143,037), and Seattle ($130,949). These are cost-of-labor estimates that adjust the national baseline by local wage levels — not direct BLS metro wages.

How can a biomedical engineer earn more?

Biomedical Engineer pay rises most with medical device vs. research vs. clinical setting, regulatory (fda) experience, and advanced degrees. Moving to a higher-cost metro, specializing, and taking on senior or lead scope are the biggest levers — the salary calculator lets you model each one.

Source details

National wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2031. Median and 90th-percentile annual wages.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →