Expert Biomedical Engineer salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $141,898 |
| 25th | $144,727 |
| 50th (median) | $159,150 |
| 75th | $170,867 |
| 90th | $179,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,186 | $105,186 | $107,750 | 11 |
| FY2021 | $115,000 | $107,794 | $131,000 | 18 |
| FY2022 | $119,570 | $109,542 | $128,000 | 14 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median expert Biomedical Engineer salary of $159,150 is worth about $142,200 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 $159,150, 24% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Arcturus Therapeutics | 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.