Biomedical Engineering Salary in US: BLS Data, By State, Experience & Career Guide

Article Summary

• Biomedical engineering salary in US averages USD 115,020 annually with a median of USD 106,950, while entry-level salaries start around USD 66,000–75,000 and top 10% earn over USD 165,060, reflecting strong demand and steady 5% job growth.
• Biomedical engineering salary in US increases with experience, education, and location, with higher pay in states like California (USD 125,700) and roles requiring master’s or PhD degrees earning up to USD 140,000–165,000+ in advanced or leadership positions.
• Biomedical engineering salary in US is boosted by high-demand specialisations like genetic engineering and AI in healthcare (USD 110K–160K+), along with skills like FDA regulations, Python, and certifications, while offering 36-month STEM OPT work opportunities for international students.

Biomedical engineering is one of the most dynamic and interdisciplinary careers in the United States, combining engineering, medicine, biology, and technology. With a median salary of USD 106,950, it offers quite a high pay structure and also long-term career benefits. Also, the course is a STEM-designated field that offers 36 months of work authorisation in the US.

If you’re looking for the biomedical engineering salary in US, this guide covers every single point and doubt, from average salaries, median annual wages, state-wise earning data, and much more important data that students must know. So, let’s dive deep into the topic so that you don’t find it difficult while thinking whether you should opt for biomedical engineering in the US or not.

Biomedical Engineering Salary: A Quick Overview

Below is a quick overview of the entire salary structure of Biomedical Engineering salary in US published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It collects and publishes statistics on many topics related to the workforce and the economy.

Metric	Value (USD)
Median Annual Wage	106,950
Average Annual Wage	115,020
10th Percentile i.e entry level	71,860
25th Percentile	86,630
75th Percentile	133,570
90th Percentile i.e top earners	165,060+
All Occupations Median	49,500
Job Growth percentage	5% (2024–2034)
Annual Job vacancies	~1,300 per year
Total Jobs in Field	22,200 (2024)

What Does a Biomedical Engineer Do?

Biomedical engineers work in the improvement of preexisting and current medical output by monitoring and evaluating their performance using Technical structuring and machine implementation. In simple terms, it’s a combined study of both Biomedical and engineering.

Core Responsibilities

Some of the core responsibilities that a biomedical engineer has to look for are mentioned below: 

• Test conducting and implementing changes based on compliance with FDA 510(k), ISO 13485, to avoid any possible legal implications.
• Research and experiment with existing and new medical devices, medicines, and studies.
• Working with 3d modeling of processes like major operations, and other clinical work, providing better working equipment.
• Provides specialised training for individuals to cope with medical necessities.

Employers

Some of the major employers are Government agencies like the FDA, NH, and pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Graduates can also work with hospitals and health care units in their residing city, or can apply for further studies, such as research in the biomedical field with universities. Another option is to work with companies that produce medical devices like Medtronic, Abbott, Stryker, etc.

Biomedical Engineering Salary by Experience Level

Salary structure mentioned below is in accordance with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which provides salary structure from entry level, mid-career, experienced, to 90th percentile experience levels, which is the highest experience that one can gain. The data below is especially for biomedical engineering salarys in US.

Experience Level	Annual Salary (USD)	Notes
Entry-level	~66,917	Equivalent to 10th percentile
Early-career (1–4 years)	~73,922	Growth with experience
Mid-career (5–9 years)	~88,738	Core specialized
Experienced (10+ years)	~97,390+	Leadership roles
BLS median	106,950	All levels
75th percentile	USD 133,570	Senior engineers
90th percentile	USD 165,060+	Experts

Also read: MS in Computer Science in Australia 2026: Top Universities, Fees, Eligibility & PR Pathway

Biomedical Engineering Salary in US by State

Below is the table with the median annual wage structure published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for Biomedical engineering salary in US.

State	Median Salary (BLS) (USD)	Important Industry Hub
California	125,700	Silicon Valley, San Diego biotech
Massachusetts	107,720	Boston biotech hub
Minnesota	124,760	Medtronic HQ
Texas	97,160	Houston medical, Austin biotech
Iowa	91,760	Healthcare systems
Washington	125,010	Seattle biotech
Ohio	117,960	Medical manufacturing
Arizona	121,680	Flagstaff metro influence

Based on the reports, California is one of the highest-paying states in US for Biomedical engineering graduates. The top-paying metro area is Flagstaff in Arizona.

Biomedical Engineering Salary in US by Education Level

Though a graduate degree is sufficient to start a career as a biomedical engineer, doing a master’s and even PHD in a required specialisation offers better salary, and career opportunities, making it the most popular and perfect choice for international students. Below is a table specifying the difference in salary structure based on degrees.

Degree	Starting Salary (USD)	Mid-Career (USD)	Best For
Bachelors	66K–75K	85K–110K	Entry roles
Masters	80K–95K	100K–140K	Advanced roles
PhD	90K–150K+	130K–165K+	Research/leadership

OPT Advantage for International Students

Optional practical training (OPT) is a plan offered by the US for international students with an F-1 visa to opt for a training period and start working for a period of 12 months or 36 months based on the course specialisations.  Courses like Biomedical Engineering are a STEM-designated field, which gives international students a major advantage:

• 12 months OPT (Optional Practical Training) and work authorisation.
• +24 months STEM OPT extension for courses like Biomedical Engineering.
•  Total: 36 months of work authorisation in the US

Biomedical Engineering Salary in US By Specialisation

The biomedical engineering salary in US varies based on the specialisation courses students have done, such as courses like Genetic Engineering/Genomics, AI, and biotechnology combined courses. These offer higher salaries and faster career growth compared to traditional roles like Clinical Engineering. Below is a table with some Biomedical Engineering specialisation courses with salary structure, industries that hire, and why you should opt for these courses.

Specialisation	Salary Range (USD)	Top Industries	Best For
Genetic Engineering / Genomics	110K–160K+	Biotech, pharma, CRISPR startups	High-end research, including medicine and AI research.
Bioinstrumentation	100K–140K	Medical devices, wearables, diagnostics	Designing devices for product development.
Biomaterials	95K–135K	Implants, orthopaedics, tissue engineering	Prosthetics and implant innovation
Clinical Engineering	85K–120K	Hospitals, healthcare systems	Equipment management
Biochemical Engineering	90K–130K	Pharma manufacturing, bioprocessing	Large-scale drug production

Also read: MS in Computer Science at Stanford University: Fees, Specialisations, Admissions & Career Outcomes

What Skills Increase Biomedical Engineering Salary in US?

The biomedical engineering salary in US is heavily influenced by specialised skills that combine expertise of both the medical and engineering fields, like technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and data skills, which offer high salary packages due to their demand. Below is a table with mentions of skills from both fields that are interrelated, along with salaries and other details.

Skill	Salary raise (USD)	Where is it used	Why It Matters
FDA Regulatory Expertise (510(k), PMA)	+10K–25K	Medical devices, pharma	Necessary for product designing and approvals.
ISO 13485 Quality Systems	+5%–15%	Manufacturing, QA/QC	Global standard for medical devices with quality checkups.
AI/ML in Healthcare	+15K–30K	Diagnostics, imaging, wearables	Fastest-growing areas with high demand for an AI-combined healthcare structure.
MATLAB & Simulation Modelling	+5K–15K	Biomechanics, imaging, R&D	Required for modelling biological systems and devices
CAD Tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD)	+5K–12K	Device design, prototyping	Core requirement in medical device companies
Clinical Trial Design (GCP)	+8K–20K	Pharma, clinical research	Combines faster and data oriented clinical research.
Python/R for Data Analysis	+10K–20K	Biostatistics, AI, research	It ai and machine learning language models induce with decision-making in the healthcare sector

Certifications That Add Value

Some certificates are mentioned below that graduates from Biomedical Engineering can apply for, and get the certification course to gain expertise and better work profile engagements from employers:

• Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE)
• Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

Biomedical Engineering Salary in US vs Related Professions

Below is a table based on Job roles in the US that are somewhat related to the Biomedical Engineering field. Differentiation is being made based on the median salary structure according to BLS data, job growth, and the overall number of jobs available. Although the biomedical engineering salary in US is less compared to other core engineering roles like Software developers or chemical engineers, it’s a specialisation course and quite a few do it, making it easier to land a job, as mentioned in the table.

Role	Median Salary (USD)	Job Growth	Total Jobs Approximate (US)	Top Industries
Biomedical Engineers	106,950	5%	22,200	Medical devices, healthcare, biotech
Software Developers	133,080	17%	1.8M+	Tech, AI, SaaS
Data Scientists	108,020	35%	180,000+	AI, healthcare analytics, finance
Chemical Engineers	114,820	5%	21,000	Pharma, energy
Mechanical Engineers	99,030	11%	316,000	Manufacturing, automotive
Electrical Engineers	103,020	9%	292,000	Electronics, robotics
Robotics Engineers	USD 100,000–USD 140,000	10%+	Growing	Automation, surgical robotics

Top Companies Hiring Biomedical Engineers

Biomedical engineers can work in a field particularly specialised according to their field of study. Job sector too is defined according to it, whether one goes for diverse designing nd manufacturing, research, hospital and healthcare units, or with government agencies. Below is a table providing sectors and company details, along with estimate salary structure.

Sector	Company	Estimated Salary Range
Medical Devices	Medtronic	USD 85K-150K+
	Abbott Laboratories	USD 90K-145K
	Stryker
	Boston Scientific	USD 85K-140K
	Johnson & Johnson (MedTech)	USD 90K-150K+
	Intuitive Surgical	USD 100K-160K+
Pharmaceutical / Biotech	Pfizer	USD 90K-140K+
	Moderna	USD 100K-150K+
	Genentech	USD 100K-150K+
Government / Research	FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)	USD 80-130K+
	NIH (National Institutes of Health)	USD 85K-120K+

ROI of Biomedical Engineering Salary for Indian Students

It is one of the best decisions to go to the US, especially for higher education and for a more advanced field of study like Biomedical Engineering, which combines medicine as a core with engineering as a development field for current and future technologically advanced fields. Although the cost might seem to skyrocket, the ROI is well worth it as it’s a high-return investment combining STEM, healthcare, and a global career. The salary structure, the career growth, and the opportunity to work in world-leading companies make it financially attractive despite the initial cost.

Why Choose This Field?

There are various reasons why one should pursue a career in the biomedical engineering field in the US. Firstly, it’s the combined intersection of two different areas of study, i.e., engineering and medicine together. This flexible range of study helps build up a long-term, highly prosperous career growth,  especially in countries like the US, which spends quite a fortune in medical and engineering research. Also, the industry setup, which is world-leading companies based in the US, which eventually means a higher salary structure. The third reason is that  International students benefit from STEM OPT, allowing up to 36 months of work authorisation (12 + 24 months) after graduation. This provides enough time to gain experience and secure H-1B sponsorship.

Salary Comparison: India vs US

The average salary that a Biomedical engineering graduate earns in India and that of a graduate in the US has a big difference due to the economic structure and highly demanding roles, which is mentioned in the table below.

Country	Average Entry-Level Salary	Mid-Level Salary	Notes
India	INR 4-9 LPA	INR 7-15 LAP	In India, investment in research and development is quite low.
USA	USD 60K-75K	USD 90,000+	High demand, strong industry setups and heavy investment in research.

Education Cost in US

Below is a table mentioning the average tuition fees for the Biomedical engineering program in the US, along with living expenses that will help students get a clear idea of the overall investment they have to put in to pursue this course.

Expense Type	Estimated Cost (USD)
Tuition (MS, total)	60K-120K
Living Expenses (2 years)	20K-40K
Total Investment	80K-160K

Also read: Masters in Finance in USA 2026: Top Universities, Fees & Salary

How to Maximise Your Biomedical Engineering Salary

There are some ways in which you can raise your biomedical engineering salary in US, which are mentioned below:

• Target High-Paying States Early: It is well known that starting your career in states like California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Minnesota, where the biomedical engineering salary in US is consistently 15–25% higher due to strong biotech and medical device industries, is always a good choice.
• Enter the Private Sector First: Prioritise jobs in medical device companies, pharmaceutical firms, or biotech startups rather than academia or government roles. The private sector generally pays 15–30% more and offers faster salary growth, especially in a shorter time period.
• MS in Biomedical Engineering: doing a master’s degree that is a specialisation course can significantly raise the salary level of biomedical engineers by USD 10K-20K as compared to bachelor’s degree job specifications.
• Specialise Early in High-Growth Areas: Choose a specialised area like gene therapy, robotic surgery tech field like medical device manufacturing. 
• Earn Industry Certifications: Obtain certifications such as ISO 13485 (Medical Device Quality), Six Sigma (Process Improvement) and PMP (Project Management). These can significantly help you improve your job profile.

FAQ

Related Reads:

MS in the USA for Indian Students: Top Universities. Fees, Eligibility, and Scholarships	Harvard MBA Fees 2026: Tuition, Living Cost & Total 2-Year Expense
MBA in the USA for Indian Students: Fees, Universities, Courses, Eligibility	Master’s in the USA for Indian Students
Study IT in the USA for International Students: Requirements, Fees & Scope	Cost of MS in the USA for Indian Students

If you want to know more about biomedical engineering salary in US and need guidance with university selection, applications, or test preparation, you can explore support from Leverage Edu to move forward with clarity and confidence.