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Biomedical Engineer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Biomedical Engineer I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Biomedical Engineer I in the United States is $74,929 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Biomedical Engineer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,010
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,524 to $79,159
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,693
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Biomedical Engineer I Salaries

A Biomedical Engineer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Biomedical Engineer I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Biomedical Engineer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $74,451
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,055
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,002
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $76,192
  • Expert (over 8 years): $76,318
Levels Salary
Entry Level Biomedical Engineer I$74,451
Intermediate Level Biomedical Engineer I$75,055
Senior Level Biomedical Engineer I$76,002
Specialist Level Biomedical Engineer I$76,192
Expert Level Biomedical Engineer I$76,318
View as Graph

How Do Biomedical Engineer Is Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Biomedical Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $82,961.
  • California: $82,647.
  • Massachusetts: $81,545.

Top Paying Cities for Biomedical Engineer I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $94,508
  • San Francisco: $93,473
  • Oakland: $91,503

What Skills Can Increase a Biomedical Engineer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 5.19% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.69% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Safety Inspections (Mentioned in 1.85% Job Postings): Identifying, assessing, and monitoring hazardous conditions to recommend corrective actions and prevent future incidents.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.19%
Microsoft Office 2.69%
Safety Inspections 1.85%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Biomedical Engineer I's salary.

  • Computer Literacy: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Medical Imaging: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Literacy $92,163
23%
Medical Imaging $84,670
13%
Flexibility $83,171
11%
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Biomedical Engineer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Biomedical Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $82,354. While startup companies pay approximate $70,034.

Biomedical Engineer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $70,034
Growth Stage 51~500 $73,968
Established 501~5000 $79,623
Enterprise 5000+ $82,354

Biomedical Engineer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Biomedical Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Biotechnology, offers compensation 25% above the average. Conversely, Biomedical Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Biomedical Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Biomedical Engineer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$93,661$45.025%

How Education impacts an Biomedical Engineer I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Biomedical Engineer I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Biomedical Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $69,047 and $73,706.

Biomedical Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Biomedical Engineer I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 1.9%
Associates 4.7%
Bachelors 47.8%
Masters 32.6%
Doctorate 12.4%
View as Graph

Biomedical Engineer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Biomedical Engineer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$68,524
Average $74,929/year
$79,159
$5,710
Average $6,244/month
$6,597
$1,318
Average $1,441/week
$1,522
$33
Average $36/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $79,159 $6,597 $1,522 $38
Average $74,929 $6,244 $1,441 $36
25th Percentile $68,524 $5,710 $1,318 $33

Biomedical Engineer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Biomedical Engineer I

Next Role

For a Biomedical Engineer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Biomedical Engineering Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $107,308 - a projected growth of 43% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Biomedical Engineer I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Biomedical Engineer I

Here are companies hiring for Biomedical Engineer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Biomedical Engineer I

1. Where can a Biomedical Engineer I earn the most?

A Biomedical Engineer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Biomedical Engineer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Biomedical Engineer I is $94,508.

2. What is the highest pay for Biomedical Engineer I?

The highest pay for Biomedical Engineer I is $83,010.

3. What is the lowest pay for Biomedical Engineer I?

The lowest pay for Biomedical Engineer I is $62,693.

4. What are the responsibilities of Biomedical Engineer I?

Applies engineering and scientific principles and methodologies to design and develop medical technologies and devices to support and enhance patient care and improve healthcare outcomes. Conducts research and testing to address specific medical conditions, improve the performance of existing devices, and develop new products. Collaborates with medical professionals to gather information for product specifications. Ensures that designs and devices meet regulatory, safety, and quality requirements and standards, such as the FDA regulations and ISO standards. Utilizes or develops software to perform testing or integrate with devices. Requires a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering or a related engineering or science discipline. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Biomedical Engineer I?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Biomedical Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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