Lead Medical Device Software Engineer.
Columbus.
$173,000
median salary, 5% below the national average
$135,000 to $225,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Columbus is 7% cheaper than the national average. For Lead Medical Device Software Engineers, that shakes out to a median of $173,000, with the full range spanning $135,000 to $225,000. Compensation for Lead Medical Device Software Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $156,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$112,000
to $138,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$147,000
to $182,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$190,000
to $225,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$216,000
to $268,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $40,000 to the total package.
Base
$173,000
Equity
$22,000
Bonus
$15,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $213,000
How Columbus compares
Columbus, OH
$173,000
Cost of living: 7% below average
National Average
$182,000
Columbus is $9,000 below
Lead Medical Device Software Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Columbus
What you should know
Here is what the Lead Medical Device Software Engineer market actually looks like in Columbus. Columbus is Ohio's largest city and a growing technology and logistics hub, home to companies like Nationwide Insurance and a major Intel semiconductor fab under construction. The city's large university system and low cost of living attract both startups and corporate expansions. Tech salaries have been climbing as national employers establish Midwest offices. Compensation for Lead Medical Device Software 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 clinical practice, specialty (primary care vs subspecialty vs surgical) and practice setting drive the largest compensation variance.
Lead Medical Device Software Engineers typically advance from entry to senior over 5 to 8 years, with staff and principal levels requiring 10+ years and demonstrated cross-team impact. For Lead Medical Device Software Engineers specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope. In Columbus, 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. Total compensation for Lead Medical Device Software Engineers runs roughly $200K 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. In clinical practice, shift differentials, call pay, and production-based bonuses can add 20–40% to base — the structure varies significantly by specialty and setting. And on the tax side: ohio's income tax tops out around 3.5%, and Columbus adds a city income tax of 2.5%. The combined rate is moderate, but the city tax applies to all who work within city limits. When someone quotes you $173,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Mention Intel's new fab investment when negotiating. The semiconductor megaproject is driving salaries upward across the entire Columbus tech and engineering market. The range for Lead Medical Device Software Engineers in Columbus runs from $135,000 to $225,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A ML Engineer in Columbus earns $174,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Columbus is Technical Fellow at $326,000
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