Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Salary
In Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $102,720 at the median, or about $49.39 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $142K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $104,881 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,713/month, or 26.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $103K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk tracks closely to the national median, $103K locally vs. $109K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,713/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.94) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in metros near Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $106K | $108K |
| Charlottesville | $87K | $88K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $110K | $101K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $99K | $102K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level bioengineers and biomedical engineers (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $142K or more, a $60K 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bioengineers and biomedical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,713/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bioengineers and biomedical engineers typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,874/month. At HUD’s $1,713/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $109K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk compare to the national average for bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $109K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — below the national median.
How much do bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $102,720 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,240, and experienced bioengineers and biomedical engineers can clear $141,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,272/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 27.3% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (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 $104,881 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.