Bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $71,850 | $34.55 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $109,370 | $52.58 |
| Mean (average) | $116,890 | $56.20 |
| 90th percentile | $168,180 | $80.86 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $85,720 | $70,010 | $142,210 | 30 | 0.11 |
| Arizona | $141,230 | $99,630 | $170,560 | 610 | 1.24 |
| Arkansas | $67,850 | $46,720 | $119,010 | 30 | 0.16 |
| California | $128,310 | $89,420 | $179,810 | 2,750 | 1 |
| Colorado | $110,650 | $73,730 | $168,300 | ||
| Connecticut | $103,500 | $81,540 | $158,650 | 300 | 1.16 |
| District of Columbia | $100,920 | $79,500 | $128,740 | 80 | 0.78 |
| Florida | $101,730 | $62,360 | $163,370 | 900 | 0.6 |
| Georgia | $96,920 | $63,480 | $127,380 | ||
| Idaho | $133,750 | $36,190 | $137,600 | ||
| Illinois | $89,520 | $48,370 | $138,110 | 280 | 0.31 |
| Indiana | $108,030 | $78,180 | $177,620 | 620 | 1.28 |
| Iowa | $81,710 | $62,080 | $135,370 | 90 | 0.37 |
| Kentucky | $95,360 | $78,570 | $121,180 | 80 | 0.25 |
| Louisiana | $84,320 | $59,510 | $122,490 | 30 | 0.11 |
| Maryland | $105,090 | $66,560 | $158,660 | 550 | 1.31 |
| Massachusetts | $127,570 | $76,750 | $194,760 | 4,740 | 8.63 |
| Michigan | $100,940 | $64,610 | $147,370 | 330 | 0.5 |
| Minnesota | $127,730 | $88,530 | $176,330 | 1,230 | 2.76 |
| Mississippi | $96,710 | $79,450 | $101,110 | ||
| Missouri | $89,480 | $59,700 | $131,800 | 160 | 0.35 |
| Montana | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.52 | ||
| Nebraska | $83,890 | $60,360 | $125,460 | 80 | 0.54 |
| Nevada | $87,850 | $77,420 | $147,520 | 70 | 0.32 |
| New Hampshire | $94,890 | $80,240 | $175,630 | 80 | 0.75 |
| New Jersey | $114,680 | $83,200 | $170,470 | 680 | 1.06 |
| New York | $104,010 | $80,290 | $177,870 | 840 | 0.57 |
| North Carolina | $94,790 | $67,260 | $134,880 | 920 | 1.23 |
| Ohio | $111,550 | $78,440 | $167,600 | 700 | 0.84 |
| Oklahoma | $109,340 | $67,980 | $193,010 | 70 | 0.26 |
| Oregon | $122,510 | $81,520 | $163,990 | 150 | 0.52 |
| Pennsylvania | $122,560 | $77,360 | $158,600 | 950 | 1.04 |
| Puerto Rico | $80,210 | $60,390 | $101,800 | 50 | 0.37 |
| South Carolina | $99,130 | $62,400 | $126,960 | 70 | 0.2 |
| Tennessee | $106,470 | $81,070 | $174,020 | 170 | 0.35 |
| Texas | $92,600 | $59,540 | $159,540 | 2,050 | 0.96 |
| Utah | $90,870 | $65,180 | $138,160 | 280 | 1.07 |
| Virginia | $106,140 | $68,890 | $200,800 | 330 | 0.53 |
| Washington | Data unavailable | 880 | 1.65 | ||
| Wisconsin | $110,430 | $76,870 | $160,220 | 180 | 0.4 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for bioengineers and biomedical engineers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering CIP 14.0501
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering CIP 14.0702
- Biological/Biosystems Engineering CIP 14.4501
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
- Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
- Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.
- Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals.
- Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.
- Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results.
- Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software.
- Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- R (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- C (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- JavaScript (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Analysis, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Technology Design.
Common job titles: Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Technician (Biomedical Tech), Engineer, Process Engineer, Research Engineer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make?
The national median annual wage for bioengineers and biomedical engineers was $109,370 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $71,850 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $168,180. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do bioengineers and biomedical engineers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is bioengineers and biomedical engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of bioengineers and biomedical engineers to change +7.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay bioengineers and biomedical engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Arizona ($141,230), Idaho ($133,750), California ($128,310). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.