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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Every Biomedical Engineer has a salary range. Few people know how wide it actually is. The national median salary for Biomedical Engineers in 2026 is $116,035, with entry-level positions averaging $64,980 and senior roles reaching $179,854. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $212,000, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Biomedical Engineer sits at the intersection of Engineering and Engineering. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in BME, and the field is characterized by high demand. The work itself is lab/hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$129,000 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Biomedical Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $212,000 — $129,000 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($83,000). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Biomedical Engineers average $64,980, the median sits at $116,035, and senior earners pull in $179,854. That $114,874 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $35,668 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $198,000 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $83,667 (average of the bottom 3). That $114,333 delta is real money — $9,528/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Biomedical Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $212,000 — $129,000 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($83,000). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Biomedical Engineer is $64,980, while senior-level (P90) earners average $179,854. That $114,874 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Biomedical Engineers at $140,475 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $123,500) is $16,975.
At the 90th percentile, Biomedical Engineers pull in an average of $179,854. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $64,980 | $116,035 | $179,854 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £47,661 | £66,196 | £93,998 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$70,908 | CA$98,483 | CA$139,846 |
| Australia | 13 | A$82,521 | A$114,613 | A$162,750 |
| Sweden | 24 | 476,256 kr | 661,467 kr | 939,283 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $78,666 | $140,475 | $217,737 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $76,020 | $135,750 | $210,413 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $75,600 | $135,000 | $209,250 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $70,000 | $125,000 | $193,750 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $69,160 | $123,500 | $191,425 |
| Washington | 8 | $67,830 | $121,125 | $187,744 |
| New York | 5 | $63,840 | $114,000 | $176,700 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $63,840 | $114,000 | $176,700 |
| Florida | 22 | $63,356 | $113,136 | $175,361 |
| Colorado | 11 | $62,262 | $111,182 | $172,332 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $62,160 | $111,000 | $172,050 |
| Nevada | 5 | $62,048 | $110,800 | $171,740 |
| Arizona | 12 | $61,740 | $110,250 | $170,888 |
| Oregon | 5 | $61,600 | $110,000 | $170,500 |
| Idaho | 3 | $61,413 | $109,667 | $169,983 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $60,928 | $108,800 | $168,640 |
| Utah | 4 | $60,760 | $108,500 | $168,175 |
| Virginia | 7 | $59,760 | $106,714 | $165,407 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $58,987 | $105,333 | $163,267 |
| Alaska | 1 | $58,800 | $105,000 | $162,750 |
| Illinois | 5 | $58,128 | $103,800 | $160,890 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $56,684 | $101,222 | $156,894 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $56,000 | $100,000 | $155,000 |
| Montana | 1 | $56,000 | $100,000 | $155,000 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $55,813 | $99,667 | $154,483 |
| Texas | 40 | $55,538 | $99,175 | $153,721 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $55,440 | $99,000 | $153,450 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $55,160 | $98,500 | $152,675 |
| Georgia | 6 | $54,973 | $98,167 | $152,158 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $54,880 | $98,000 | $151,900 |
| Kansas | 4 | $54,600 | $97,500 | $151,125 |
| Michigan | 6 | $54,413 | $97,167 | $150,608 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $53,760 | $96,000 | $148,800 |
| Maryland | 1 | $53,760 | $96,000 | $148,800 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $53,200 | $95,000 | $147,250 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $53,200 | $95,000 | $147,250 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $51,800 | $92,500 | $143,375 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $51,520 | $92,000 | $142,600 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $50,820 | $90,750 | $140,663 |
| Missouri | 4 | $50,820 | $90,750 | $140,663 |
| Alabama | 5 | $50,624 | $90,400 | $140,120 |
| Indiana | 3 | $49,840 | $89,000 | $137,950 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $49,840 | $89,000 | $137,950 |
| Iowa | 2 | $49,280 | $88,000 | $136,400 |
| Ohio | 6 | $49,187 | $87,833 | $136,142 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $47,040 | $84,000 | $130,200 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Biomedical Engineer median of $140,475 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($135,750) and Hawaii ($135,000). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $84,000 and $88,000. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($212,000 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $100,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $212,000 | 212 | $100,000 | $122,060 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $198,000 | 198 | $100,000 | $115,473 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $184,000 | 184 | $100,000 | $108,250 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $181,000 | 181 | $100,000 | $106,598 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $178,000 | 178 | $100,000 | $104,947 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $177,000 | 177 | $100,000 | $104,396 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $177,000 | 177 | $100,000 | $104,396 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $173,000 | 173 | $100,000 | $102,194 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $173,000 | 173 | $100,000 | $102,194 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $169,000 | 169 | $100,000 | $99,992 |
From a career planning perspective, Biomedical Engineer offers a $114,874 earning range. The 2.8× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in BME. Day-to-day, expect lab/hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Biomedical Engineers is $116,035 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $64,980, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $179,854.
The highest-paying city for Biomedical Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $212,000. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($212,000), Santa Clara ($198,000), Irvine ($184,000). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Biomedical Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $83,000. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Biomedical Engineers (10th percentile) average $64,980 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $118,720. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Biomedical Engineers average $179,854 nationally — $114,874 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Biomedical Engineers can earn up to $328,600.
The top-paying states for Biomedical Engineers are California ($140,475 median), Massachusetts ($135,750 median), Hawaii ($135,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Biomedical Engineer involves Bachelor's in BME. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically lab/hybrid.
With a national median of $116,035 and representation across 288 metro areas, Biomedical Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $114,874 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.