Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Salary
In Tennessee, bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $106,470 at the median, or about $51.19 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $174K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $118,590 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $106K get you in Tennessee?
About bioengineers and biomedical engineers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $109K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 17.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $174K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $106K | +0% | 140 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bioengineers and biomedical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 17.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,864/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is bioengineers and biomedical engineer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $109K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Tennessee pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $109K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in Tennessee?
The median is $106,470 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,070, and experienced bioengineers and biomedical engineers can clear $174,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,941/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 17.5% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $118,590 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.