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 $100,490 and $150,160, with a median of $125,700.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 401 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $121,000. 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 | 64 | $84,370 |
| Level II — qualified | 87 | $112,570 |
| Level III — experienced | 83 | $132,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 71 | $155,000 |
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 | 32 | $82,590 |
| Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | Quality Engineer | 22 | $144,250 |
| University of California, San Francisco | Postdoctoral Scholar | 16 | $78,456 |
| Medtronic, Inc. | Sr. R&D Engineer | 12 | $108,493 |
| Becton, Dickinson and Company | Senior Systems Engineer | 10 | $137,500 |
| St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. | Staff Systems Engineer | 10 | $126,500 |
| University of California, Davis | Postdoctoral Scholar | 9 | $74,425 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Postdoctoral Scholar Employee | 7 | $74,425 |
| CEPHEID | Senior Scientist I | 6 | $132,788 |
| VEROTECH SOLUTIONS, LLC | Design Quality Engineer | 6 | $85,280 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Sr. Biomedical Engineer at Cerus Corporation$146,120ConcordDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502153
- Endoscope Engineer at Advanced Monitors Corporation$86,000San DiegoDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-501745
- Associate Specialist at University of California, San Francisco$75,600San FranciscoDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-484050
- Postdoctoral Scholar at University of California, Santa Cruz$79,881Santa CruzDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-478860
- Sr Research Associate, Process Development at Gilead Sciences, Inc.$4,589,624OceansideDecided Dec 18, 2025I-200-25345-474666
- Principal Technical Program Manager, Imaging at CZ Biohub SF, LLC$214,000Palo AltoDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-471321
- Senior Cybersecurity Engineer at Q Bio, Inc.$160,000San CarlosDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25345-474221
- POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE$82,836IRVINEDecided Dec 15, 2025I-200-25343-467075
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.
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 167 certified offers. The most common variant is Staff Systems Engineer at a median of $136,790.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Systems Engineer | St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. | 24 | $136,790 |
| Engineer | StimScience Inc. | 22 | $110,532 |
| Senior Scientist | CEPHEID | 19 | $134,381 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | University of California, Davis | 18 | $74,516 |
| R&D Engineer | Medtronic, Inc. | 15 | $112,421 |
| Staff Quality Engineer | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | 14 | $141,700 |
| Biomedical Engineer | Medtronic, Inc. | 11 | $102,000 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar Employee | University of California, Berkeley | 10 | $74,425 |
| Research Engineer | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 10 | $122,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Affiliate | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 9 | $74,755 |
| Assistant Project Scientist | University of California, Santa Cruz | 8 | $87,500 |
| Director, Early Phase Process Development | Avid Bioservices, Inc. | 7 | $180,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 395 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $133,677.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. | 193 | $133,677 |
| Professional services | VEROTECH SOLUTIONS, LLC | 97 | $120,000 |
| Education | The Leland Stanford, Jr University | 83 | $79,881 |
| Healthcare | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | 11 | $104,208 |
| Technology and software | CORPORATE SOLUTIONS GENERAL INC | 8 | $136,780 |
| Retail and wholesale | Sonomotion Inc. | 2 | $139,500 |
| 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 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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 Jose$139,490
- San Francisco$136,720
- Riverside$122,520
- San Diego$116,790
- Los Angeles$115,020
- Sacramento$108,120
Compare Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers pay across nearby states
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 $125,700.
- How does California compare to the national median for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers?
- The California median is +14.7% versus the BLS national figure of $109,622.
- What is the salary range for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $83,990 and the 90th-percentile at $173,630, 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.