Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers: Career Overview
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.
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What Do Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Do?
Typical responsibilities of bioengineers and biomedical engineers span:
- Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.
- Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.
- Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.
- 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.
- Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results.
- Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software.
- Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances.
Skills and Knowledge
Top bioengineers and biomedical engineers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Analytical Biochemical Engineer
- Biochemical Development Engineer
- Biochemical Engineer
- Biochemistry Chemical Engineering Analyst
- Bioengineer
- Bioinformatics Engineer
- Biomaterials Engineer
- Biomechanical Engineer
How Many Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Are There?
There are about 56,066 bioengineers and biomedical engineers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $121,651 |
| Hourly median | $58.49 |
| 10th percentile | $69,958 |
| 25th percentile | $95,804 |
| 75th percentile | $147,497 |
| 90th percentile | $173,343 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $129,440 |
| Oregon | $129,020 |
| California | $125,700 |
| Washington | $125,010 |
| Minnesota | $124,760 |
| Arizona | $121,680 |
| Ohio | $117,960 |
| Oklahoma | $117,250 |
| New York | $117,180 |
| New Mexico | $116,560 |
| New Jersey | $115,080 |
| Kansas | $109,140 |
| Rhode Island | $107,970 |
| Massachusetts | $107,720 |
| North Carolina | $107,070 |
| Colorado | $106,690 |
| Indiana | $105,750 |
| Maryland | $105,650 |
| Michigan | $103,810 |
| Virginia | $103,170 |
| Tennessee | $103,020 |
| Georgia | $101,710 |
| District of Columbia | $101,620 |
| Kentucky | $101,420 |
| Connecticut | $100,590 |
| Florida | $99,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,900 |
| North Dakota | $97,520 |
| Texas | $97,160 |
| South Carolina | $96,350 |
| Montana | $94,700 |
| Iowa | $91,760 |
| Nevada | $90,640 |
| Utah | $86,140 |
| Illinois | $83,730 |
| Missouri | $77,550 |
| Nebraska | $72,590 |
Where Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Earn the Most
Compensation for bioengineers and biomedical engineers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $125,256 | 19.0% | 1.30 |
| Great Lakes | $113,313 | 14.1% | 1.72 |
| Middle Atlantic | $109,136 | 12.9% | 0.88 |
| Plains States | $108,569 | 5.9% | 1.26 |
| New England | $103,852 | 20.1% | 7.08 |
| Southeast | $102,760 | 13.0% | 0.70 |
| Southwest | $102,431 | 10.7% | 0.87 |
| Rocky Mountains | $97,023 | 4.3% | 1.32 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $139,490 | 270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $136,720 | 620 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | WI | $133,470 | 130 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $129,020 | 80 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $128,220 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | IN | $127,650 | 500 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $127,640 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | OH | $127,490 | 690 |
Industry Breakdown
Most bioengineers and biomedical engineers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 6,940 | $107,430 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6,110 | $115,330 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,500 | $122,550 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,140 | $95,440 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,900 | $125,230 |
| Educational Services | 870 | $76,800 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 280 | $114,400 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 220 | $98,240 |
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft Azure software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of bioengineers and biomedical engineers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Education and Training
Most bioengineers and biomedical engineers positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Natural Sciences Managers (Supplemental)
- Data Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Clinical Data Managers (Supplemental)
- Bioinformatics Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Chemical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Nanosystems Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future bioengineers and biomedical engineers commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering
3 programs across 3 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-2031.00 (Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers).
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