Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.
- Median pay
- $109,370
- Doing it now
- 23,800
- By 2035
- Up 7.6%
- Usually needs
- Bachelor's degree
a year
across the country
1,200 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
- Advise hospital administrators on the planning, acquisition, and use of medical equipment.
- Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs.
- Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes.
- Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals.
- Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.
- Conduct training or in-services to educate clinicians and other personnel on proper use of equipment.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Biomedical/Medical EngineeringSee 204 colleges that teach it
- Chemical EngineeringSee 188 colleges that teach it
- Biological/Biosystems EngineeringSee 18 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Analytical and curious
Hands-on and practical
Organised and precise
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $109,370 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.