Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California bioengineers and biomedical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $105,950 and $153,670, with a median of $128,310.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 454 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $121,903. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 75 | $83,200 |
| Level II — qualified | 100 | $112,585 |
| Level III — experienced | 104 | $134,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 105 | $157,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | Postdoctoral Research Affiliate | 36 | $88,154 |
| Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Quality Engineer | 22 | $144,250 |
| University of California, San Francisco | Postdoctoral Scholar | 20 | $78,532 |
| Medtronic, Inc. | Principal R&D Engineer | 13 | $108,493 |
| St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. | Electrical Engineering Manager | 12 | $125,347 |
| Becton, Dickinson and Company | Senior Systems Engineer | 11 | $140,000 |
| University of California, Davis | Postdoctoral Scholar | 9 | $74,425 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Postdoctoral Scholar Employee | 7 | $74,425 |
| CEPHEID | Scientist II | 6 | $132,788 |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc. | Associate Scientist, Process Development | 6 | $153,421 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Principal Engineer, R&D at Edwards Lifesciences LLC$120,500IrvineWage Level IIIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-725362
- Senior Software Test Engineer at Auris Health, Inc.$180,300Santa ClaraWage Level IVDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-727082
- Postdoctoral Scholar at University of California at Santa Barbara$82,836Santa BarbaraDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726521
- Quality Engineer at Neuromodulatory Devices & Applications, Inc.$130,000Palo AltoWage Level IIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726212
- Senior Ultrasound Imaging Systems Engineer at Exo Imaging, Inc.$170,000Santa ClaraWage Level IVDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726049
- Staff Engineer, Medical at Eurofins Electrical and Electronic Testing NA, LLC$140,000IrvineWage Level IVDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-718624
- Manager, Microfabrication Engineer at Neuralink Corp.$138,778FremontWage Level IIIDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-719638
- Distinguished Control Engineer – Algorithm Development at Becton, Dickinson and Company$190,000IrvineWage Level IVDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-719811
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 191 certified offers. The most common variant is Engineer at a median of $120,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Amgen Inc. | 29 | $120,500 |
| Staff Systems Engineer | St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. | 24 | $136,790 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | University of California, San Francisco | 23 | $74,425 |
| Associate Scientist, Process Development | BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. | 21 | $134,000 |
| Senior R&D Engineer | Medtronic, Inc. | 18 | $123,261 |
| Quality Engineer | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | 16 | $139,200 |
| Research Engineer | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 11 | $120,000 |
| Biomedical Engineer | Medtronic, Inc. | 11 | $102,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Affiliate | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 10 | $74,816 |
| Associate Director, Packaging Engineer | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 10 | $175,680 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar Employee | University of California, Berkeley | 9 | $74,425 |
| Assistant Project Scientist | University of California, Los Angeles | 9 | $90,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 448 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $134,622.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | 207 | $134,622 |
| Professional services | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 116 | $122,000 |
| Education | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 98 | $80,017 |
| Healthcare | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | 13 | $104,208 |
| Technology and software | 3Key Consulting, Inc. | 8 | $135,780 |
| Retail and wholesale | BLOOM BEAUTY CORPORATION | 5 | $114,000 |
| Real estate | CBRE, INC. | 1 | $102,877 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.2 / 5
Biology
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals.
- 02
Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.
- 03
Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
- 04
Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes.
- 05
Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs.
- 06
Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.
- 07
Conduct training or in-services to educate clinicians and other personnel on proper use of equipment.
- 08
Analyze new medical procedures to forecast likely outcomes.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Francisco$140,660
- San Jose$136,450
- Sacramento$128,300
- San Diego$128,270
- Los Angeles$128,240
- Riverside$123,670
Compare Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California is $128,310.
- How does California compare to the national median for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers?
- The California median is +17.1% versus the BLS national figure of $109,594.
- What is the salary range for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $89,420 and the 90th-percentile at $179,810, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.