Biomedical Engineering Salary: What the Data Shows
Biomedical engineering is a specialised field that applies engineering principles to medicine and biology. In Australia, the occupation is classified under ANZSCO 233913 and is part of the broader group of Other Engineering Professionals. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there are about 1,300 biomedical engineers employed nationally, with 88% working full-time and an average full-time week of 41 hours. The median age is 37, and women make up 21% of the workforce.
No Published Median Earnings
The ABS does not publish a median weekly earnings figure for biomedical engineers at the 6-digit ANZSCO level. This is common for smaller occupations where survey sample sizes are insufficient for reliable estimates. The most recent data available is from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, but it does not cover this specific code. Therefore, a precise salary figure for biomedical engineers is not available from official sources.
How Pay Sits Relative to the National Average
While we cannot give a precise biomedical engineering salary, we can compare the profession to the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the reference line used on this site. The full-time median (all employees) is about $1,436 per week ($74,672 per year), and the full-time median is about $1,741 per week ($90,532 per year). Biomedical engineers are likely to earn above the all-employees median given their high full-time share, but no exact figure is published.
A Resident Take-Home Sketch
To give a sense of what a biomedical engineer might take home if they earned the national average, we apply the 2026–27 resident tax rates and Medicare levy. For a gross salary of $108,352:
- Tax: nil on first $18,200; 15% on $26,800 ($4,020); 30% on $63,352 ($19,005.60); total tax $23,025.60
- Medicare levy: 2% of $108,352 = $2,167.04
- Total deductions: $25,192.64
- Estimated take-home: about $83,159 per year, or $1,599 per week
This is an illustration only. Actual biomedical engineer salaries may be higher due to specialised skills, or lower for entry-level roles.
State Comparisons
The national average masks variation across states. For example, the full-time average in New South Wales is about $109,658, in Victoria $106,137, and in Western Australia $115,825. Biomedical engineers working in states with higher averages may see higher pay, but no state-level data exists for this occupation. You can explore state averages on the States and territories page.
How Biomedical Engineering Compares to Other Occupations
Biomedical engineers are classified as Professionals. The ABS reports that Professionals have a median weekly cash earnings of $2,049.60 (Employee Earnings, May 2025). This is above the all-occupations median of $1,611.10. The profession also has a high full-time share (88%) compared to 64% across all occupations, which tends to lift weekly earnings. However, the average full-time hours of 41 are slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours.
The Minimum Wage Context
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, about $52,255 per year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from the previous year. Biomedical engineers are typically covered by professional awards or individual arrangements, and their pay is well above the minimum wage.
Where to Find More Information
For a detailed look at how salaries are calculated and the data sources used, see How the figures are set. If you want to place your own salary on the line against the national average, use the Place a salary on the line tool.
Summary
While a precise biomedical engineering salary is not published by the ABS, the profession is well-compensated relative to the national average. The national full-time average of $108,352 provides a useful benchmark. Biomedical engineers typically work full-time, have above-average earnings potential, and are part of a growing field. For the most current data, refer to the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia.