Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $136,450 a year ($65.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,020 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $109,370. Pay here is 6% higher than the California statewide median of $128,310. There are 0.24 bioengineers and biomedical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $143,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,720 | $46.02 |
| 25th percentile | $109,090 | $52.45 |
| Median | $136,450 | $65.60 |
| 75th percentile | $173,890 | $83.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $208,020 | $100.01 |
| Average (mean) | $143,640 | $69.06 |
Half of bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,370.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,685.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,248.08 |
| Weekly | $2,624.04 |
| Hourly | $65.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $136,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $140,660 | 650 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $128,300 | 130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,270 | 410 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $128,240 | 910 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $123,670 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for bioengineers and biomedical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $141,230 |
| Idaho | $133,750 |
| California | $128,310 |
| Minnesota | $127,730 |
| Massachusetts | $127,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $122,560 |
| Oregon | $122,510 |
| New Jersey | $114,680 |
| Ohio | $111,550 |
| Colorado | $110,650 |
See Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $209,860 | $100.89 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $194,370 | $93.45 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $168,030 | $80.79 |
| Engineers, All Other | $169,650 | $81.56 |
| Industrial Engineer | $136,950 | $65.84 |
| Electrical Engineer | $187,060 | $89.93 |
| Civil Engineer | $130,280 | $62.64 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $181,630 | $87.32 |
| Materials Engineer | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Environmental Engineer | $125,550 | $60.36 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $143,050 | $68.77 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $95,280 | $45.81 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $90,660 | $43.59 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $129,640 | $62.33 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $136,450 a year, or $65.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $208,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bioengineers and biomedical engineers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of bioengineers and biomedical engineers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $208,020 a year. The top 25% earn $173,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,720 a year, and a quarter of bioengineers and biomedical engineers earn $109,090 or less.
How many bioengineers and biomedical engineers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 270 bioengineers and biomedical engineers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.