Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers work at the intersection of engineering and science, with a national median annual salary of $106,950 and national employment of 22,000. The projected employment growth of 5.2% and 1,000 annual openings indicate ongoing demand for this field. Career success in this occupation draws on a blend of critical and analytical thinking, science, mathematics, and strong computers and information technology skills. Creativity and innovation, along with problem solving and decision making, also play a central role, supported by writing and reading, project management, and leadership abilities. Mechanical skills contribute to the technical side of the work. Opportunity varies by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher salaries or more employment. Overall, this career can appeal to students, career changers, and professionals who enjoy combining scientific understanding, quantitative analysis, and innovative thinking within an engineering context, and who are ready to build the broad skill set reflected in this role’s top skills profile.
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn a national median annual salary of $106,950, indicating strong earning potential across the occupation. Salaries vary by location, with several states and metro areas offering notably higher median pay. Among the top states, California reports a median salary of $128,310 and Massachusetts $127,570, compared with $104,010 in New York, $106,140 in Virginia, and $105,090 in Maryland. At the metro level, median salaries are even higher in some areas: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA leads with $140,660, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $136,450 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $128,550. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metros also offer six-figure median pay. This range gives job seekers flexibility to weigh compensation alongside other factors such as location and employment concentration.
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers have national employment of 22,000, with projected employment growth of 5.2%. This growth projection suggests that new positions are expected to be added over time, alongside existing roles. The occupation also shows 1,000 annual openings, which combine new jobs created through growth with openings from turnover or other employment changes. Growth of 5.2% is consistent across the top listed states and metro areas, indicating a similar projected expansion in those locations. For individuals considering this career, the combination of existing employment, projected growth, and steady annual openings points to an occupation with ongoing opportunities. Since the data show the same 5.2% growth rate in leading states such as California, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, and Maryland, as well as in major metros like San Francisco, San Jose, New York, Washington, and Boston, job seekers can evaluate opportunities across multiple regions while expecting comparable growth percentages.
Location can play a major role in shaping opportunities for bioengineers and biomedical engineers. Among states, California and Massachusetts stand out with relatively high median salaries ($128,310 and $127,570) and higher employment counts (2,750 and 4,740), paired with opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.87. New York, Virginia, and Maryland offer somewhat lower median salaries but still in a similar overall range, with opportunity scores from 52.88 to 65.78, giving candidates several strong state-level options. At the metro level, differences become even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27), combining six-figure median salaries with significant employment. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers the highest listed median salary at $140,660, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has a large employment base of 4,040. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV also provides solid pay and employment. Together, these data highlight multiple geographic paths for building a career in this field.
The typical education requirement for bioengineers and biomedical engineers is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education provides the foundation for the broad and technical skill set associated with the occupation. Success in the role relies heavily on critical and analytical thinking, science, and mathematics, supported by strong computers and information technology skills. Creativity and innovation are also emphasized, suggesting that professionals are expected to generate and develop new ideas as part of their work. Writing and reading skills are important for communicating and understanding technical information, while project management and leadership abilities support organizing work and guiding efforts. Mechanical skills contribute to handling the more physical or technical aspects of engineering tasks. Problem solving and decision making tie these capabilities together, enabling professionals to analyze issues, evaluate options, and choose effective solutions. For students and career changers, focusing education and training on this cluster of skills can help align preparation with the demands of the occupation.
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