Synthetic Biology Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$107,000
national median salary
$87,000 to $134,000. Last updated August 2026.
Orbyt prices 2 titles at this same figure: Biomedical Engineer and Synthetic Biology Engineer. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $109,370 for Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (SOC 17-2031) across the United States, based on 23,480 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$71,850
25th percentile
$86,980
Median
$109,370
75th percentile
$136,600
90th percentile
$168,180
Workers surveyed
23,480
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$106,950
May 2025 release
$109,370
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
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 Synthetic Biology Engineerspecifically. The national 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 17-2031Highest Paying
$142,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$112,000
Fargo, ND
Lowest Paying
$84,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 17-2031. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Synthetic Biology Engineer salary in the United States at $107,000 in 2026, within a range of $87,000 to $134,000. 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. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 2 titles at the same estimate. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $142,000, while Fargo offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation for Synthetic Biology Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack.
Synthetic Biology Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase Synthetic Biology Engineer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Synthetic Biology Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $14,980 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$14,980 per year
≈ +$13,910 per year
≈ +$12,840 per year
≈ +$11,770 per year
≈ +$11,770 per year
≈ +$10,700 per year
≈ +$10,700 per year
≈ +$9,630 per year
What you should know.
Compensation for Synthetic Biology Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 10% in a typical year. Within engineering disciplines, PE licensure and domain (aerospace, civil, electrical) shift the band significantly; defense-sector clearances add further premium.
Synthetic Biology Engineers typically progress Associate → Engineer → Senior → Principal → Fellow over 12 to 20 years, with PE licensure marking the transition to senior levels. Consulting partners and firm ownership are common late-career paths.
Total compensation for Synthetic Biology Engineers runs roughly $171K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~10% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. Benefits and time-off policies vary by employer; candidates should factor them into offer comparisons alongside cash compensation.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Synthetic Biology Engineers typically earn $96,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Synthetic Biology Engineer pay.
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