What Does it Take to Be a Biomedical Engineer?
Biomedical Engineer Example Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.
Life As a Biomedical Engineer: What Do They Do?
- Conduct preventative maintenance on equipment.
- Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating and using budgets, and overseeing contract obligations and deadlines.
- Keep documentation of service histories on all biomedical equipment.
- Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.
- Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs.
- Teach biomedical engineering or disseminate knowledge about the field through writing or consulting.
Biomedical Engineer Needed Skills
These are the skills Biomedical Engineers say are the most useful in their careers:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Other Biomedical Engineer Job Titles
- Product Development Director
- Field Clinical Engineer
- Bioprocess Engineer
- Medical Engineer
- Biomedical Manager
Biomedical Engineer Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 21,300 jobs for Biomedical Engineer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,500 new jobs for Biomedical Engineer by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,600 positions for Biomedical Engineer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Biomedical Engineer are Utah, Arkansas, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Biomedical Engineer
The average yearly salary of a Biomedical Engineer ranges between $51,890 and $144,350.
Biomedical Engineers who work in Minnesota, Connecticut, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Biomedical Engineers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $103,650 |
Arkansas | $66,840 |
California | $101,210 |
Colorado | $96,880 |
Connecticut | $102,970 |
District of Columbia | $80,320 |
Florida | $78,670 |
Georgia | $81,870 |
Illinois | $98,420 |
Indiana | $85,310 |
Iowa | $68,260 |
Kansas | $77,150 |
Maryland | $100,200 |
Massachusetts | $105,580 |
Michigan | $79,650 |
Minnesota | $114,380 |
Missouri | $75,150 |
Nebraska | $82,540 |
Nevada | $96,100 |
New Jersey | $113,140 |
New York | $101,460 |
North Carolina | $93,450 |
Ohio | $84,700 |
Oklahoma | $67,300 |
Oregon | $94,440 |
Pennsylvania | $78,840 |
South Carolina | $64,460 |
Tennessee | $77,920 |
Texas | $100,680 |
Utah | $70,980 |
Vermont | $95,280 |
Virginia | $97,400 |
Washington | $94,850 |
West Virginia | $85,280 |
Wisconsin | $71,750 |
What Tools do Biomedical Engineers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Biomedical Engineers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Extensible markup language XML
- R
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Minitab
How to Become a Biomedical Engineer
Are there Biomedical Engineers education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Biomedical Engineer?
Biomedical Engineers Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Biomedical Engineers employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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References:
Image Credit: UC Davis College of Engineering via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.