Salary comparison
Biomedical Engineer vs Chemical Engineer salary
Chemical Engineers out-earn biomedical engineers by about $14,910 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Chemical Engineers earn more — a median of $121,860 versus $106,950 for biomedical engineers, a gap of about $14,910 (14%). Both figures are published national wage benchmarks.
Biomedical Engineer
Verified$106,950
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $71,860
- Top 10%
- $165,060
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Chemical Engineer
Verified$121,860
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $78,520
- Top 10%
- $182,150
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Biomedical Engineer vs Chemical Engineer — pay distribution
Percentile-by-percentile comparison of national annual wages.
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileBiomedical Engineer | $71,860 |
| MedianBiomedical Engineer | $106,950 |
| 90th percentileBiomedical Engineer | $165,060 |
| 10th percentileChemical Engineer | $78,520 |
| MedianChemical Engineer | $121,860 |
| 90th percentileChemical Engineer | $182,150 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Biomedical Engineer
Chemical Engineer
Where each role pays most
Highest-paying states by published median wage.
Biomedical Engineer
- Wisconsin$129,440
- Oregon$129,020
- California$125,700
- Washington$125,010
- Minnesota$124,760
Chemical Engineer
- Oklahoma$160,990
- New Mexico$147,290
- West Virginia$139,730
- Texas$135,160
- Virginia$132,550
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, chemical engineers earn about 14% more at the median — but location and specialization routinely move pay by more than that gap.
Pick biomedical engineer if…
Biomedical engineers design medical devices, equipment, and software that combine engineering with biology and medicine.
- ▹Medical device vs. research vs. clinical setting
- ▹Regulatory (FDA) experience
- ▹Advanced degrees
Pick chemical engineer if…
Chemical engineers apply chemistry, physics, and biology to design processes that produce chemicals, fuels, drugs, and food.
- ▹Industry (oil & gas and pharma pay above commodities)
- ▹Process vs. R&D vs. plant operations
- ▹Years of experience
Biomedical Engineer vs Chemical Engineer — frequently asked
Who earns more, biomedical engineers or chemical engineers?
What is the salary range for biomedical engineers vs chemical engineers?
Should I become a biomedical engineer or a chemical engineer?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2031 (Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers), national.
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →