Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Salary
In Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $127,110 at the median, or about $61.11 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $120,575 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,922/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $127K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro sits well above the national pay line for bioengineers and biomedical engineers, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $109K. Rent runs $1,922/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% 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 105.42), 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $128K | $113K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $141K | $122K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $128K | $115K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $136K | $124K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $80K 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 quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bioengineers and biomedical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,922/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,055/month. At HUD’s $1,922/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $127K 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare to the national average for bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $109K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $127,110 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,250, and experienced bioengineers and biomedical engineers can clear $163,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,253/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 26.5% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (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 $120,575 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.