Biomedical Engineer.
Pittsburgh.
$97,000
median salary, 9% below the national average
$79,000 to $122,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Biomedical Engineer pay in Pittsburgh at $97,000, within a range of $79,000 to $122,000. That is 9% below the national average. Pittsburgh has reinvented itself from a steel city into a hub for robotics, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare technology. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Biomedical Engineer in Pittsburgh, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $115,320 for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (SOC 17-2031) in the Pittsburgh, PA metropolitan area, based on 180 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$75,480
25th percentile
$92,180
Median
$115,320
75th percentile
$135,170
90th percentile
$145,410
Workers surveyed
180
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (SOC 17-2031) rather than Biomedical Engineer specifically. The Pittsburgh range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2031Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $87,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$63,000
to $78,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$82,000
to $102,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$107,000
to $126,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$121,000
to $150,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $28,000 to the total package.
Base
$97,000
Equity
$16,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $125,000
How Pittsburgh compares.
Pittsburgh, PA
$97,000
Cost of living: 8% below average
National Average
$107,000
Pittsburgh is $10,000 below
Biomedical Engineer salary by city.
Salary by role in Pittsburgh.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Biomedical Engineer offer in Pittsburgh, understand the terrain. Pittsburgh has reinvented itself from a steel city into a hub for robotics, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare technology. Carnegie Mellon University feeds a strong talent pipeline into AI and robotics companies. The city's low cost of living combined with world class research institutions makes it a hidden gem for technology professionals. Subspecialty drives significant pay variation, with implantable device and tissue engineering roles paying premiums over rehabilitation equipment design. Industry setting matters, as medical device companies pay 15 to 25% more than hospitals or research institutions. Advanced degrees and FDA regulatory experience boost earning potential.
Entry-level biomedical engineers start at $72,000 to $85,000. Senior engineers with specialization earn $95,000 to $122,000 after five to seven years. Engineering managers and directors at device companies reach $130,000 to $175,000 with strong bonus potential. In Pittsburgh, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Medical device companies offer bonuses of 8 to 15% and equity grants. Many roles include patent bonuses of $1,000 to $5,000 per filing. Benefits typically include generous continuing education allowances and conference travel budgets. And on the tax side: pennsylvania's flat 3.07% state tax is low, but Pittsburgh adds a local earned income tax of about 3%. Combined with the school district tax, local taxes require attention in negotiations. When someone quotes you $97,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight robotics or AI specialization. Pittsburgh employers tied to CMU's research ecosystem pay nationally competitive salaries for candidates with advanced technical skills. The range for Biomedical Engineers in Pittsburgh runs from $79,000 to $122,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Biomedical Engineer salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Pittsburgh.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Biomedical Engineer Salary in Pittsburgh, PA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/biomedical-engineer/pittsburgh
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