Biomedical Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 58 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes La Jolla, Carlsbad, Vista, Del Mar, Oceanside.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $85,018 |
| 25th | $99,756 |
| 50th (median) | $118,545 |
| 75th | $136,180 |
| 90th | $161,177 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $90,147 | $75,795 | $105,186 | 40 |
| FY2021 | $103,864 | $79,371 | $115,000 | 46 |
| FY2022 | $91,146 | $75,300 | $114,166 | 57 |
| FY2023 | $100,000 | $82,909 | $120,000 | 33 |
| FY2024 | $99,008 | $90,500 | $119,000 | 33 |
| FY2025 | $118,545 | $99,008 | $132,631 | 32 |
| FY2026 | $116,610 | $104,541 | $141,975 | 26 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Biomedical Engineer salary of $118,545 is worth about $106,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $128,270 in May 2025 (410 employed). The H-1B median here is $118,545, 8% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Illumina | too few | 7 |
| Element Biosciences | too few | 4 |
| University Of California, San Diego | too few | 4 |
| Arcturus Therapeutics | too few | 3 |
| Aperture Companies | too few | 2 |
| Becton, Dickinson and Company | too few | 2 |
| EverX | too few | 2 |
| Gen-Probe Incorporated | too few | 2 |
| Natus Medical Incorporated | too few | 2 |
| Ryzen Solutions | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 2 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $104,541 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $125,000 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $159,150 | 12 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $104,541 | $104,541 | 17 |
| Senior · Level III | $117,790 | $125,000 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $141,898 | $159,150 | 12 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.