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BiomedicalEngineers:Career,SalaryandEducationInformation

BiomedicalEngineers:Career,SalaryandEducation
Information
Top3BiomedicalEngineerJobs
AssociateAttorneyKnobbeMartensOlson&BearPaloAlto,CA
Candidatesmusthaveatleastapproximately3yearsofexperienceandadegreeinElectrical
Engineering,ComputerScience,MechanicalEngineering
Aswellasidentifying
Werelookingforpeoplewhoarecommittedtomakingpatientsandtheirfamiliesfeelknownand
understood.Peoplewhounderstandwhatitmeanstobe

WhatBiomedicalEngineersDo[Aboutthissection][ToTop]
Biomedicalengineerscombineengineeringprincipleswithmedicalandbiologicalsciencestodesignand
createequipment,devices,computersystems,andsoftwareusedinhealthcare.

DutiesofBiomedicalEngineers
Biomedicalengineerstypicallydothefollowing:
Designequipmentanddevices,suchasartificialinternalorgans,replacementsforbodyparts,and
machinesfordiagnosingmedicalproblems
Install,adjust,maintain,repair,orprovidetechnicalsupportforbiomedicalequipment
Evaluatethesafety,efficiency,andeffectivenessofbiomedicalequipment
Traincliniciansandotherpersonnelontheproperuseofequipment
Workwithlifescientists,chemists,andmedicalscientiststoresearchtheengineeringaspectsofthe
biologicalsystemsofhumansandanimals
Prepareprocedures,writetechnicalreports,publishresearchpapers,andmakerecommendations
basedontheirresearchfindings
Presentresearchfindingstoscientists,nonscientistexecutives,clinicians,hospitalmanagement,
engineers,othercolleagues,andthepublic
Biomedicalengineersdesigninstruments,devices,andsoftwareusedinhealthcarebringtogether
knowledgefrommanytechnicalsourcestodevelopnewproceduresorconductresearchneededto
solveclinicalproblems.
Theyoftenserveacoordinatingfunction,usingtheirbackgroundinbothengineeringandmedicine.For
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example,theymaycreateproductsforwhichanindepthunderstandingoflivingsystemsandtechnology
isessential.Theyfrequentlyworkinresearchanddevelopmentorinqualityassurance.
Biomedicalengineersdesignelectricalcircuits,softwaretorunmedicalequipment,orcomputer
simulationstotestnewdrugtherapies.Inaddition,theydesignandbuildartificialbodyparts,suchaship
andkneejoints.Insomecases,theydevelopthematerialsneededtomakethereplacementbodyparts.
Theyalsodesignrehabilitativeexerciseequipment.
Theworkoftheseengineersspansmanyprofessionalfields.Forexample,althoughtheirexpertiseis
basedinengineeringandbiology,theyoftendesigncomputersoftwaretoruncomplicatedinstruments,
suchasthreedimensionalxraymachines.Alternatively,manyoftheseengineersusetheirknowledge
ofchemistryandbiologytodevelopnewdrugtherapies.Othersdrawheavilyonmathematicsand
statisticstobuildmodelstounderstandthesignalstransmittedbythebrainorheart.
Thefollowingareexamplesofspecialtyareaswithinthefieldofbiomedicalengineering:
Bioinstrumentationuseselectronics,computerscience,andmeasurementprinciplestodevelop
devicesusedinthediagnosisandtreatmentofdisease.
Biomaterialsisthestudyofnaturallyoccurringorlaboratorydesignedmaterialsthatareusedin
medicaldevicesorasimplantationmaterials.
Biomechanicsinvolvesthestudyofmechanics,suchasthermodynamics,tosolvebiologicalormedical
problems.
Clinicalengineeringappliesmedicaltechnologytooptimizehealthcaredelivery.
Rehabilitationengineeringisthestudyofengineeringandcomputersciencetodevelopdevicesthat
assistindividualswithphysicalandcognitiveimpairments.
Systemsphysiologyusesengineeringtoolstounderstandhowsystemswithinlivingorganisms,from
bacteriatohumans,functionandrespondtochangesintheirenvironment.
Somepeoplewithtraininginbiomedicalengineeringbecomeprofessors.Formoreinformation,seethe
profileonpostsecondaryteachers.

BiomedicalEngineeringWorkEnvironment[Aboutthissection]
[ToTop]
Biomedicalengineersheldabout22,100jobsin2014.Theindustriesthatemployedthemostbiomedical
engineerswereasfollows:

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Medicalequipmentandsuppliesmanufacturing

23%

Researchanddevelopmentinthephysical,engineering,andlifesciences

16

Pharmaceuticalandmedicinemanufacturing

12

Navigational,measuring,electromedical,andcontrolinstrumentsmanufacturing

Hospitalsstate,local,andprivate

Biomedicalengineersworkinavarietyofsettings.Someworkinhospitals,wheretherapyoccurs,and
othersworkinlaboratories,doingresearch.Stillothersworkinmanufacturingsettings,wherethey
designbiomedicalengineeringproducts.Yetotherbiomedicalengineersworkincommercialoffices,
wheretheymakeorsupportbusinessdecisions.
Biomedicalengineersworkinteamswithscientists,healthcareworkers,orotherengineers.Whereand
howtheyworkdependsontheproject.Forexample,abiomedicalengineerwhohasdevelopedanew
devicedesignedtohelpapersonwithadisabilitytowalkagainmighthavetospendhoursinahospital
todeterminewhetherthedeviceworksasplanned.Iftheengineerfindsawaytoimprovethedevice,he
orshemighthavetoreturntothemanufacturertohelpalterthemanufacturingprocessinorderto
improvethedesign.

BiomedicalEngineerWorkSchedules
Biomedicalengineersusuallyworkfulltimeonanormalschedule.However,aswithemployeesin
almostanyengineeringoccupation,biomedicalengineersoccasionallymayhavetoworkadditional
hourstomeettheneedsofpatients,managers,colleagues,andclients.
Biomedicalengineerstypicallyneedabachelorsdegreeinbiomedicalengineeringorbioengineering
fromanaccreditedprograminordertoentertheoccupation.Alternatively,theycangetabachelors
degreeinadifferentfieldofengineeringandtheneitherchoosebiologicalscienceelectivesorgeta
graduatedegreeinbiomedicalengineering.

BiomedicalEngineerEducation
Prospectivebiomedicalengineeringorbioengineeringstudentsshouldtakehighschoolsciencecourses,
suchaschemistry,physics,andbiology.Theyshouldalsotakemathcourses,includingalgebra,
geometry,trigonometry,andcalculus.Coursesindraftingormechanicaldrawingandincomputer
programmingarealsouseful.
Bachelorsdegreeprogramsinbiomedicalengineeringandbioengineeringfocusonengineeringand
biologicalsciences.Programsincludelaboratorybasedcourses,inadditiontoclassroombased
courses,insubjectssuchasfluidandsolidmechanics,computerprogramming,circuitdesign,and
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biomaterials.Otherrequiredcoursesmayincludebiologicalsciences,suchasphysiology.
Accreditedprogramsalsoincludesubstantialtraininginengineeringdesign.Manyprogramsincludeco
opsorinternships,oftenwithhospitalsandmedicaldeviceandpharmaceuticalmanufacturing
companies,toprovidestudentswithpracticalapplicationsaspartoftheirstudy.Biomedicalengineering
andbioengineeringprogramsareaccreditedbyABET.

BiomedicalEngineeringImportantQualities
Analyticalskills.Biomedicalengineersmustbeabletoanalyzetheneedsofpatientsandcustomersto
designappropriatesolutions.
Communicationskills.Becausebiomedicalengineerssometimesworkwithpatientsandfrequently
workonteams,theymustbeabletoexpressthemselvesclearly.Theymustseekothersideasand
incorporatethoseideasintotheproblemsolvingprocess.
Creativity.Biomedicalengineersmustbecreativetocomeupwithinnovativeandintegrativeadvances
inhealthcareequipmentanddevices.
Mathskills.Biomedicalengineersusetheprinciplesofcalculusandotheradvancedtopicsin
mathematics,aswellasstatistics,foranalysis,design,andtroubleshootingintheirwork.
Problemsolvingskills.Biomedicalengineerstypicallydealwithandsolveproblemsincomplex
biologicalsystems.

BiomedicalEngineeringAdvancement
Biomedicalengineerstypicallyreceivegreaterresponsibilitythroughexperienceandmoreeducation.To
leadaresearchteam,abiomedicalengineergenerallyneedsagraduatedegree.Somebiomedical
engineersattendmedicalordentalschooltospecializeinapplicationsattheforefrontofpatientcare,
suchasusingelectricimpulsesinnewwaystogetmusclesmovingagain.Someearnlawdegreesand
workaspatentattorneys.Otherspursueamastersdegreeinbusinessadministration(MBA)andmove
intomanagerialpositions.Formoreinformation,seetheprofilesonlawyersandarchitecturaland
engineeringmanagers.

BiomedicalEngineerSalaries[Aboutthissection][More
salary/earningsinfo][ToTop]
Themedianannualwageforbiomedicalengineerswas$86,950inMay2014.Themedianwageisthe
wageatwhichhalftheworkersinanoccupationearnedmorethanthatamountandhalfearnedless.
Thelowest10percentearnedlessthan$52,680,andthehighest10percentearnedmorethan
$139,350.
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InMay2014,themedianannualwagesforbiomedicalengineersinthetopindustriesinwhichthey
workedwereasfollows:
Researchanddevelopmentinthephysical,engineering,andlifesciences

$97,160

Navigational,measuring,electromedical,andcontrolinstrumentsmanufacturing

91,480

Medicalequipmentandsuppliesmanufacturing

91,010

Pharmaceuticalandmedicinemanufacturing

79,670

Hospitalsstate,local,andprivate

72,060

Biomedicalengineersusuallyworkfulltimeonanormalschedule.However,aswithemployeesin
almostanyengineeringoccupation,biomedicalengineersoccasionallymayhavetoworkadditional
hourstomeetprojectdeadlines.

BiomedicalEngineeringJobOutlook[Aboutthissection][ToTop]
Employmentofbiomedicalengineersisprojectedtogrow23percentfrom2014to2024,muchfaster
thantheaverageforalloccupations.
Biomedicalengineerslikelywillseemoredemandbecauseofgrowingtechnologyanditsapplicationto
medicalequipmentanddevices.Smartphonetechnologyandthreedimensionalprintingareexamples
oftechnologybeingappliedtobiomedicaladvances.
Astheagingbabyboomgenerationliveslongerandstaysactive,thedemandforbiomedicaldevices
andprocedures,suchashipandkneereplacementsisexpectedtoincrease.Inaddition,asthepublic
hasbecomemoreawareofmedicaladvances,increasingnumbersofpeopleareseekingbiomedical
solutionstotheirhealthproblemsfromtheirphysicians.
Biomedicalengineersworkwithscientists,othermedicalresearchers,andmanufacturerstoaddressa
widerangeofinjuriesandphysicaldisabilities.Theirabilitytoworkindifferentactivitieswithworkers
fromotherfieldsisenlargingtherangeofapplicationsforbiomedicalengineeringproductsandservices.

BiomedicalEngineersJobProspects
Rapidadvancesintechnologywillcontinuetochangewhatbiomedicalengineersdoandcontinueto
createnewareasforthemtoworkin.Thus,theexpandingrangeofactivitiesinwhichbiomedical
engineersareengagedshouldtranslateintoveryfavorablejobprospects.Inaddition,theagingofthe
populationandretirementofasubstantialpercentageofbiomedicalengineersislikelytohelpcreatejob
openingsbetween2014and2024.
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EmploymentprojectionsdataforBiomedicalEngineers,201424
Change,201424
OccupationalTitle

Biomedicalengineers

Employment,2014

22,100

ProjectedEmployment,2024

27,200

Percent

Numeric

23

5,100

Architecturalandengineeringmanagersplan,direct,andcoordinateactivitiesinarchitecturaland
engineeringcompanies.
Biochemistsandbiophysicistsstudythechemicalandphysicalprinciplesoflivingthingsandofbiological
processes,suchascelldevelopment,growth,heredity,anddisease.
Chemicalengineersapplytheprinciplesofchemistry,biology,physics,andmathtosolveproblemsthat
involvetheproductionoruseofchemicals,fuel,drugs,food,andmanyotherproducts.Theydesign
processesandequipmentforlargescalemanufacturing,planandtestproductionmethodsand
byproductstreatment,anddirectfacilityoperations.
Electricalengineersdesign,develop,test,andsupervisethemanufacturingofelectricalequipment,such
aselectricmotors,radarandnavigationsystems,communicationssystems,andpowergeneration
equipment.Electronicsengineersdesignanddevelopelectronicequipment,suchasbroadcastand
communicationssystemsfromportablemusicplayerstoglobalpositioningsystems(GPSs).
Mechanicalengineeringisoneofthebroadestengineeringdisciplines.Mechanicalengineersdesign,
develop,build,andtestmechanicalandthermalsensorsanddevices,includingtools,engines,and
machines.
Physiciansandsurgeonsdiagnoseandtreatinjuriesorillnesses.Physiciansexaminepatientstake
medicalhistoriesprescribemedicationsandorder,perform,andinterpretdiagnostictests.They
counselpatientsondiet,hygiene,andpreventivehealthcare.Surgeonsoperateonpatientstotreat
injuries,suchasbrokenbonesdiseases,suchascanceroustumorsanddeformities,suchascleft
palates.

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