Biomedical Engineer Salary Overview
A Biomedical Engineer in the United States earns a median of $100,590 a year, or about $48.36 an hour over a full-time year of 2,080 hours. The role requires proficiency with industry-standard tools and technologies including SolidWorks, MATLAB, LabVIEW, COMSOL Multiphysics, Python, ANSYS, 3D bioprinters, test equipment (oscilloscopes, force gauges), statistical software (Minitab, JMP). The band runs from $58,400 to $162,200, a spread of 178 per cent between the two ends, which for this occupation is decided mainly by years in the role and by the employer rather than by job title. On the median salary, federal income tax takes about $13,744 and FICA another $7,695, leaving $79,151 in a state with no income tax such as Texas or Florida; add California income tax of roughly $5,492 and take-home pay falls to about $73,659, an effective rate of 26.8 per cent. Education: The typical path to becoming a Biomedical Engineer involves earning a Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering; Master's or PhD common for R&D and medical device design; pre-med coursework advantageous.
The pay band for a Biomedical Engineer is unusually steep: the lead level pays about 2.6 times the entry level, or $153,903 against $60,354. A spread that wide means the occupation rewards accumulated judgement rather than credentials, and it has a practical consequence for anyone starting out: the first offer matters far less than the rate of progression, because the band above is large enough to absorb a modest start within a few years.
The largest single step is the one out of the entry level, worth about $40,236 a year. That places the decisive moment early: the two or three years it takes to stop being junior are worth more than any later promotion, which argues for choosing a first employer on what it will teach rather than on what it pays.
Every one of the best-paying states for this occupation (CA, MA, NJ) levies an income tax, which means the highest gross offers are also the most heavily taxed. The comparison worth making is against a lower gross in a state without income tax: on this median salary the state layer is large enough that the ranking by take-home pay differs from the ranking by salary.
Demand concentrates in San Jose, CA, Boston, MA, Minneapolis, MN, and those are also among the most expensive places to live in the country. A premium of ten or twenty per cent on the median does not survive a housing cost twice the national figure, so the right comparison for a Biomedical Engineer weighing a move is take-home pay minus rent, not salary against salary.
The Biomedical Engineer is one of the most important roles in the Engineering sector of the US economy in 2026. With a median annual salary of $100,590, compensation for this position ranges from $58,400 at the entry level to $162,200 for highly experienced professionals in top-paying markets.
This career typically requires Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering; Master's or PhD common for R&D and medical device design; pre-med coursework advantageous. Valued professional credentials include PE license, Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), Six Sigma, Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), FDA 21 CFR Part 820 training. On a day-to-day basis, professionals in this role focus on designing medical devices and implants, conducting biocompatibility testing, navigating FDA regulatory submissions (510(k), PMA), developing rehabilitation equipment, creating computational models of biological systems, managing clinical trials for devices, and ensuring design controls per ISO 13485.
The job market for this position shows 5% from 2022-2032 driven by aging population, wearable health tech, implantable devices, tissue engineering, and AI-enabled diagnostics growth, with demand strongest in specializations including medical device design, tissue engineering, biomechanics, neural engineering, medical imaging systems, and clinical engineering/hospital equipment management. AI accelerates drug-device combination analysis and imaging algorithms, but the regulatory navigation, patient safety decisions, and novel biomaterial development require human biomedical expertise
Salary Range: The typical Biomedical Engineer in the US earns between $58,400 and $162,200 per year, with a median of $100,590.
What Does a Biomedical Engineer Do?
A Biomedical Engineer spends their workday designing medical devices and implants, conducting biocompatibility testing, navigating FDA regulatory submissions (510(k), PMA), developing rehabilitation equipment, creating computational models of biological systems, managing clinical trials for devices, and ensuring design controls per ISO 13485. The role requires proficiency with industry-standard tools and technologies including SolidWorks, MATLAB, LabVIEW, COMSOL Multiphysics, Python, ANSYS, 3D bioprinters, test equipment (oscilloscopes, force gauges), statistical software (Minitab, JMP).
The typical work environment involves medical device companies, hospitals (clinical engineering), research labs, or startups; clean room and lab work; regulated environment with extensive documentation; standard business hours. Within the profession, you can specialize in areas such as medical device design, tissue engineering, biomechanics, neural engineering, medical imaging systems, and clinical engineering/hospital equipment management, each requiring different skill sets and offering different compensation levels.
Day-to-day responsibilities vary based on seniority and organization size. Entry-level professionals often focus on execution tasks under supervision, while senior professionals take on strategic planning, mentoring, and cross-functional leadership.
Biomedical Engineer Salary by Experience
| Level | Salary | Hourly | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | $60,354 | $29/hr | $48,606 |
| Mid | $100,590 | $48/hr | $73,659 |
| Senior | $134,791 | $65/hr | $94,209 |
| Lead | $153,903 | $74/hr | $105,495 |
Best and Worst States for Biomedical Engineer Pay
Which states let a Biomedical Engineer keep the most, and least, of their salary, ranked by annual take-home pay.
Geographic location significantly impacts Biomedical Engineer compensation. The top-paying states for this role include California (medical devices), Minnesota (Medtronic corridor), Massachusetts (biotech), Indiana (orthopedic devices), New Jersey (J&J, pharma devices).
States with no income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, Tennessee) offer an effective pay boost of 3-9% compared to high-tax states like California or New York, though these states often compensate with higher cost of living or property taxes. When evaluating offers, consider both gross salary and after-tax take-home pay.
For a Biomedical Engineer earning $100,590, state choice alone determines a $5,492 swing in annual take-home pay. This is not a theoretical exercise: Engineering professionals increasingly have geographic flexibility, and understanding that Texas preserves $79,151 of your salary while California only preserves $73,659 should factor into every relocation and remote work decision.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Analysis: When factoring in regional cost of living, Texas offers the best purchasing power for a Biomedical Engineer salary. While high-tax states like California and New York offer robust Engineering job markets, their combined tax burden and cost of living can reduce effective purchasing power by 25-40% compared to states like Texas or Georgia. A Biomedical Engineer earning $100,590 in Texas enjoys purchasing power equivalent to approximately $85,109 in a baseline cost area.
Engineering Hub Analysis: Biomedical Engineer professionals find the strongest markets in Houston (energy), Detroit (automotive), Seattle (aerospace), and California (defense/tech). Prevailing wage requirements on government-funded projects can add 20-40% to compensation in high-cost areas. For Biomedical Engineer roles specifically, states investing heavily in infrastructure (Texas, Florida, Georgia) offer growing demand with favorable tax treatment compared to traditional engineering hubs like California or New York.
Top 10 Best States for Biomedical Engineer Salary
| # | State | Gross | Federal | State Tax | FICA | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 2 | Florida | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 3 | Nevada | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 5 | South Dakota | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 6 | Tennessee | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 7 | Texas | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 8 | Washington | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 9 | Wyoming | $100,590 | $13,744 | $0 | $7,695 | $79,151 | 21.3% |
| 10 | North Dakota | $100,590 | $13,744 | $1,677 | $7,695 | $77,474 | 23.0% |
Bottom 10 Worst States for Biomedical Engineer Salary
| # | State | Gross | Federal | State Tax | FICA | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Kansas | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,077 | $7,695 | $74,074 | 26.4% |
| 43 | New York | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,251 | $7,695 | $73,900 | 26.5% |
| 44 | Virginia | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,268 | $7,695 | $73,883 | 26.5% |
| 45 | Minnesota | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,390 | $7,695 | $73,762 | 26.7% |
| 46 | Delaware | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,408 | $7,695 | $73,743 | 26.7% |
| 47 | California | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,492 | $7,695 | $73,659 | 26.8% |
| 48 | Maine | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,654 | $7,695 | $73,497 | 26.9% |
| 49 | District of Columbia | $100,590 | $13,744 | $5,709 | $7,695 | $73,442 | 27.0% |
| 50 | Hawaii | $100,590 | $13,744 | $7,371 | $7,695 | $71,780 | 28.6% |
| 51 | Oregon | $100,590 | $13,744 | $8,276 | $7,695 | $70,875 | 29.5% |
Biomedical Engineer Take-Home Pay by City
Minneapolis for medical device industry (Medtronic, Boston Scientific); San Jose for health tech; Boston for biotech devices; Warsaw IN for orthopedic implants
When comparing city compensation, factor in cost of living differences. A $100,590 salary in a mid-cost city often provides more purchasing power than a 20-30% premium in San Francisco or New York.
How to turn these figures into an actual offer, what to ask for besides base pay and when to name a number, is covered in the guide to negotiating a salary offer.
| City | Gross Salary | Total Tax | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $100,590 | $26,931 | $73,659 | 26.8% |
| Boston, MA | $100,590 | $26,248 | $74,342 | 26.1% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $100,590 | $26,828 | $73,762 | 26.7% |
| Hartford, CT | $100,590 | $26,224 | $74,366 | 26.1% |
| San Francisco, CA | $100,590 | $26,931 | $73,659 | 26.8% |
Calculate Biomedical Engineer Take-Home Pay
Adjust the state and filing status to see your estimated after-tax income.
Estimated Take-Home Pay
Tax Breakdown
Tax Distribution
Calculating...
Pay Frequency Breakdown
| Period | Gross | Tax | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculating... | |||
How to Become a Biomedical Engineer
Education: The typical path to becoming a Biomedical Engineer involves earning a Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering; Master's or PhD common for R&D and medical device design; pre-med coursework advantageous. Some professionals enter the field through alternative pathways, but formal education provides the strongest foundation for long-term career growth.
Certifications: Key professional credentials for this role include PE license, Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), Six Sigma, Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), FDA 21 CFR Part 820 training. These certifications demonstrate expertise to employers and often directly correlate with higher compensation.
Skills & Tools: Proficiency with SolidWorks, MATLAB, LabVIEW, COMSOL Multiphysics, Python, ANSYS, 3D bioprinters, test equipment (oscilloscopes, force gauges), statistical software (Minitab, JMP) is expected for competitive candidates. Building a portfolio of work or gaining practical experience through internships, projects, or entry-level positions is essential for breaking into the field.
Timeline: Most professionals reach mid-level competency within 3-5 years of entering the field, with senior positions typically requiring 7-12 years of progressive experience.
Biomedical Engineer Career Outlook
Employment for the Biomedical Engineer role is projected to grow 5% from 2022-2032 driven by aging population, wearable health tech, implantable devices, tissue engineering, and AI-enabled diagnostics, reflecting strong demand driven by industry evolution and changing workforce needs. The most in-demand specializations include medical device design, tissue engineering, biomechanics, neural engineering, medical imaging systems, and clinical engineering/hospital equipment management.
AI and Automation Impact: AI accelerates drug-device combination analysis and imaging algorithms, but the regulatory navigation, patient safety decisions, and novel biomaterial development require human biomedical expertise
Professionals who combine deep technical expertise with strong communication skills and adaptability will find the best opportunities in this evolving landscape.
Tax Tips for Biomedical Engineer Earnings
The strategies that apply to every salaried professional, the contribution limits, the bracket arithmetic and the question of moving to a state without an income tax, are set out once in the guide to tax strategies for salaried professionals rather than repeated on each occupation page.
Biomedical Engineer Salary FAQ
The median annual salary for a Biomedical Engineer in the United States is $100,590 in 2026. Compensation typically ranges from $58,400 for entry-level positions to $162,200 for experienced professionals in top-paying markets. Actual pay depends on experience, location, certifications, and employer size. On a median salary of $100,590, take-home pay works out to about $73,659 a year before state-specific credits.
On a $100,590 salary, a Biomedical Engineer takes home approximately $85,000-$105,000 after federal, state, and FICA taxes, depending on the state and filing status. In no-income-tax states like Texas or Florida, take-home pay is higher than in states like California or New York. On a median salary of $100,590, take-home pay works out to about $73,659 a year before state-specific credits.
Entry-level Biomedical Engineer professionals with 0-2 years of experience can expect to earn around $60,354 per year. Starting salaries vary significantly by location, with major metro areas offering 15-30% premiums over rural areas. On a median salary of $100,590, take-home pay works out to about $73,659 a year before state-specific credits.
The highest-paying states for Biomedical Engineer professionals include CA, MA, NJ. However, when adjusted for cost of living, some mid-tier states offer better purchasing power. No-income-tax states provide an additional 3-9% effective pay boost. On a median salary of $100,590, take-home pay works out to about $73,659 a year before state-specific credits.
The median hourly equivalent for a Biomedical Engineer is approximately $48.36, based on 2,080 working hours per year. Actual hourly rates vary by experience level, with senior professionals earning $10-30 more per hour than entry-level. On a median salary of $100,590, take-home pay works out to about $73,659 a year before state-specific credits.
To become a Biomedical Engineer, you typically need Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering; Master's or PhD common for R&D and medical device design; pre-med coursework advantageous. Valuable certifications include PE license, Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC), Six Sigma, Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), FDA 21 CFR Part 820 training. Most employers also value practical experience gained through internships or entry-level positions.
Employment for Biomedical Engineer professionals is projected to grow 5% from 2022-2032 driven by aging population, wearable health tech, implantable devices, tissue engineering, and AI-enabled diagnostics. AI accelerates drug-device combination analysis and imaging algorithms, but the regulatory navigation, patient safety decisions, and novel biomaterial development require human biomedical expertise. The strongest opportunities are in medical device design, tissue engineering, biomechanics, neural engineering, medical imaging systems, and clinical engineering/hospital equipment management.
A Biomedical Engineer typically spends their day designing medical devices and implants, conducting biocompatibility testing, navigating FDA regulatory submissions (510(k), PMA), developing rehabilitation equipment, creating computational models of biological systems, managing clinical trials for devices, and ensuring design controls per ISO 13485. The work environment involves medical device companies, hospitals (clinical engineering), research labs, or startups; clean room and lab work; regulated environment with extensive documentation; standard business hours.
Personal finance and taxation expert. Specialized in US federal and state tax calculations, paycheck analysis, and helping Americans understand their take-home pay across all 50 states.
Sources & References
Tax rates, salary data, and deduction figures used on this page are sourced from official US government publications:
- IRS.gov, Federal income tax brackets, standard deductions, and tax procedures for the 2026 tax year
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for median salary data
- Social Security Administration (SSA.gov), Social Security wage base, FICA tax rates, and Medicare thresholds
- IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, Federal paycheck withholding calculations and verification
Last reviewed and updated: 2026-09-27. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice.