Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Salary
In Boulder, CO, bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $129,030 at the median, or about $62.03 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $194K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.2), so that salary is closer to $122,652 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,033/month, or 25.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $129K actually covers in Boulder, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boulder’s Regional Price Parity (105.2). 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 Boulder
Boulder 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. Rent runs $2,033/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.2), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $141K | $137K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $92K | $91K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $194K or more, a $113K 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
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a bioengineers and biomedical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 26.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,033/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,151/month. At HUD’s $2,033/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Boulder?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $129K here vs. $109K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Boulder pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $109K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $123K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $129,030 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,010, and experienced bioengineers and biomedical engineers can clear $194,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,772/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,033/month, which eats 26.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 105.2 (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 $122,652 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.