Biomedical Engineer salary
From 2,108 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 17-2031: Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 27% of Biomedical Engineer filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: The Leland Stanford, Jr University. 42 filings (2% of the total), median $92,308.
- Pay depends on the city. Among the 5 metro areas with the most filings, the median ranges from $108,493 in Los Angeles, CA to $134,691 in San Francisco, CA.
- Median up 24% since FY2020. From $85,956 in FY2020 to $106,568 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Biomedical Engineer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 2,108 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Biomedical Engineer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 17-2031, Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers). The median base salary is $104,552, 15% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $81,000 and $130,000. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 27% of filings. Boston, MA has the most filings (269), and The Leland Stanford, Jr University is the employer that files the most (42).
Is your Biomedical Engineer offer competitive?
Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Biomedical Engineer jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
Enter a salary to see where it falls.
Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Biomedical Engineer
The Leland Stanford, Jr University42 filings · 2%$92,308
Medtronic34 filings · 2%$111,657
Eli Lilly and Company31 filings · 1%$131,316
University of Michigan28 filings · 1%$66,294
St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division27 filings · 1%$120,000
Intuitive Surgical Operations26 filings · 1%$143,166
University of California, San Francisco25 filings · 1%$79,881
Becton, Dickinson and Company24 filings · 1%$133,500
Siemens Medical Solutions22 filings · 1%$125,867
Children's Hospital20 filings · 1%$84,375
Employers with the most Biomedical Engineer filings. Bar: share of all Biomedical Engineer filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 27% of filings
Mid-level · 27% of filings
Senior · 24% of filings
Expert · 22% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $73,262 | 526 |
| Level II · Qualified | $99,902 | 517 |
| Level III · Experienced | $120,762 | 468 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $143,500 | 435 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Biomedical Engineer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 36 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $109,307 | 269 |
| San Francisco, CA | $134,691 | 190 |
| San Jose, CA | $133,264 | 174 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $108,493 | 133 |
| New York, NY | $114,400 | 115 |
| Chicago, IL | $90,521 | 70 |
| Dallas, TX | $104,219 | 67 |
| Houston, TX | $103,210 | 61 |
| San Diego, CA | $118,545 | 58 |
| Washington, DC | $100,000 | 55 |
| Atlanta, GA | $90,000 | 49 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $103,447 | 46 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $113,277 | 45 |
| Durham, NC | $95,000 | 39 |
| Seattle, WA | $111,650 | 35 |
| Baltimore, MD | $83,075 | 34 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $72,554 | 32 |
| Miami, FL | $92,701 | 25 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $122,096 | 20 |
| Raleigh, NC | $115,897 | 20 |
| Austin, TX | $113,300 | 19 |
| Portland, OR | $92,248 | 19 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $90,000 | 17 |
| Denver, CO | $91,042 | 15 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $94,000 | 15 |
| Sacramento, CA | $79,017 | 14 |
| Trenton, NJ | $120,000 | 13 |
| Cleveland, OH | $85,370 | 12 |
| Madison, WI | $86,442 | 12 |
| New Haven, CT | $90,355 | 12 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $125,715 | 11 |
| Providence, RI | $123,967 | 11 |
| Ithaca, NY | $70,450 | 10 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $133,250 | 10 |
| Oxnard, CA | $99,755 | 10 |
| Rochester, MN | $103,401 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Biomedical Engineer does
Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.
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.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (17-2031.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers), the median annual wage was $109,370 in May 2025, with 23,480 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $104,552, 4% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,078 | $71,850 |
| 25th percentile | $81,000 | $86,980 |
| Median | $104,552 | $109,370 |
| 75th percentile | $130,000 | $136,600 |
| 90th percentile | $152,793 | $168,180 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,078 |
| 25th | $81,000 |
| 50th (median) | $104,552 |
| 75th | $130,000 |
| 90th | $152,793 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $85,956 | $70,000 | $109,559 | 1,100 |
| FY2021 | $94,890 | $75,000 | $118,997 | 1,129 |
| FY2022 | $96,616 | $75,000 | $120,578 | 1,185 |
| FY2023 | $95,000 | $72,391 | $119,133 | 1,224 |
| FY2024 | $98,300 | $76,627 | $126,000 | 1,271 |
| FY2025 | $101,736 | $79,144 | $126,787 | 1,170 |
| FY2026 | $106,568 | $85,000 | $133,261 | 938 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Biomedical Engineer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Biomedical Engineer jobs is $104,552 (2,108 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $81,000 and $130,000.
What does an entry-level Biomedical Engineer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $73,262. Level I accounts for 27% of Biomedical Engineer filings.
Which city pays H-1B Biomedical Engineers the most?
Among metro areas with at least 100 filings, San Francisco, CA has the highest median base salary for Biomedical Engineer jobs: $134,691 (190 filings).
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Biomedical Engineers?
The Leland Stanford, Jr University (42), Medtronic (34) and Eli Lilly and Company (31) filed the most Biomedical Engineer LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Biomedical Engineers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($104,552) is 4% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($109,370, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.