Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Salary
In Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $128,550 at the median, or about $61.8 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $195K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $118,731 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 37.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $129K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About bioengineers and biomedical engineers
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What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Boston-Cambridge-Newton sits well above the national pay line for bioengineers and biomedical engineers, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $109K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 38.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $104K | $102K |
| Waterbury-Shelton | $129K | $129K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $111K | $98K |
| Providence-Warwick | $101K | $100K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $195K or more, a $119K spread from bottom to top.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $141K | +29% | 610 |
| Idaho | $134K | +22% | N/A |
| California | $128K | +17% | 2,750 |
| Minnesota | $128K | +17% | 1,230 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +17% | 4,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $123K | +12% | 950 |
| Oregon | $123K | +12% | 150 |
| New Jersey | $115K | +5% | 680 |
| Ohio | $112K | +2% | 700 |
| Colorado | $111K | +1% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $110K | +1% | 180 |
| Oklahoma | $109K | -0% | 70 |
| Indiana | $108K | -1% | 620 |
| Tennessee | $106K | -3% | 170 |
| Virginia | $106K | -3% | 330 |
| Maryland | $105K | -4% | 550 |
| New York | $104K | -5% | 840 |
| Connecticut | $104K | -5% | 300 |
| Florida | $102K | -7% | 900 |
| Michigan | $101K | -8% | 330 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | -8% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $99K | -9% | 70 |
| Georgia | $97K | -11% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $97K | -12% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $95K | -13% | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $95K | -13% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $95K | -13% | 920 |
| Texas | $93K | -15% | 2,050 |
| Utah | $91K | -17% | 280 |
| Illinois | $90K | -18% | 280 |
| Missouri | $89K | -18% | 160 |
| Nevada | $88K | -20% | 70 |
| Alabama | $86K | -22% | 30 |
| Louisiana | $84K | -23% | 30 |
| Nebraska | $84K | -23% | 80 |
| Iowa | $82K | -25% | 90 |
| Arkansas | $68K | -38% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bioengineers and biomedical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 38.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,556/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 65% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is bioengineers and biomedical engineer a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $129K here vs. $109K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 8% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $109K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $128,550 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,930, and experienced bioengineers and biomedical engineers can clear $194,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,682/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 38.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary is worth about $118,731 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bioengineers and biomedical engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.