Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
SOC 17-2031 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers is $100,730, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $106,700, and an estimated 19,320 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +8.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -7.6% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 5.2% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $100,730 | $100,730 | 19,320 |
| 2022 | $99,550 | $103,648 | 19,210 |
| 2021 | $97,410 | $109,536 | 17,190 |
| 2020 | $92,620 | $109,043 | 18,660 |
Nominal change
+8.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-7.6%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+5.2%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
22,200
Projected 2034
23,300
Annual Openings
1,300
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $100,730. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $124,760 | +23.9% | 90 |
| Arizona | $115,400 | +14.6% | 400 |
| New Mexico | $111,230 | +10.4% | 30 |
| New York | $109,340 | +8.5% | 860 |
| California | $108,950 | +8.2% | 2,780 |
| New Jersey | $108,670 | +7.9% | 460 |
| Maryland | $108,450 | +7.7% | 470 |
| Colorado | $107,280 | +6.5% | 720 |
| Washington | $105,030 | +4.3% | 620 |
| Wisconsin | $105,030 | +4.3% | 290 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$68,100
25th Pct
$81,370
Median
$100,730
75th Pct
$125,780
90th Pct
$154,350
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | MI | 12 | $57,300 |
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | CA | 9 | $78,000 |
| University of Minnesota | MN | 8 | $92,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PA | 6 | $66,000 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | GA | 5 | $63,700 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | 4 | $66,950 |
| The University of Virginia | VA | 4 | $104,200 |
| CEPHEID | CA | 4 | $130,797 |
| Johns Hopkins University | MD | 4 | $80,766 |
| Medtronic, Inc. | MA | 4 | $136,878 |
| Medtronic, Inc. | CA | 4 | $119,032 |
| Illumina, Inc. | CA | 4 | $118,168 |
| Covidien LP | CA | 3 | $106,064 |
| University of Maryland College Park | MD | 3 | $56,880 |
| Amgen Inc. | CA | 3 | $124,355 |
| Northwestern University | IL | 3 | $85,000 |
| Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | CA | 3 | $158,200 |
| UIH America, Inc. | TX | 3 | $102,003 |
| Cornell University | NY | 3 | $74,160 |
| The Methodist Hospital Research Institute | TX | 3 | $59,592 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Architecture & Engineering
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