Biomedical Engineer.
Philadelphia.
$100,000
median salary, 9% above the national average
$78,000 to $133,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
The median Biomedical Engineer salary in Philadelphia is $100,000, 9% above the national average. Entry level starts near $78,000. Experienced professionals push past $133,000. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
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How Philadelphia compares
Philadelphia, PA
$100,000
Cost of living: 9% above average
National Average
$92,000
Philadelphia is $8,000 above
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Biomedical Engineer roles in Philadelphia, here is what you are walking into. Philadelphia combines a robust healthcare and life sciences sector with established finance and higher education institutions. The city's pharmaceutical corridor is among the strongest in the country. Tech growth has accelerated, particularly in health tech and enterprise software, offering salaries that stretch further than in nearby New York. 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 Philadelphia, 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 has a flat 3.07% state income tax, but Philadelphia adds a 3.75% city wage tax for residents. This combined local burden is worth factoring into salary negotiations. When someone quotes you $100,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income. The range for Biomedical Engineers in Philadelphia runs from $78,000 to $133,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Philadelphia
Negotiating in Philadelphia
Account for the Philadelphia wage tax in your ask. Request a 5 to 8% premium over suburban offers to offset the city's local tax on all earned income.