Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Salary
In Columbia, MO, bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $101,800 at the median, or about $48.94 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $113,819 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,160/month, or 18% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). 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 Columbia
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers pay in Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $109K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,160/month, 18.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $80K | $85K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $99K | $95K |
| Memphis | $106K | $116K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $99K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $68K 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
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 quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bioengineers and biomedical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 18.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,582/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $109K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Columbia pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $109K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $114K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $101,800 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,700, and experienced bioengineers and biomedical engineers can clear $128,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,327/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 18.3% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bioengineers and biomedical engineers salary is worth about $113,819 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.