Biomedical Engineers: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Biomedical Engineers

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.

Salary
$98340
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality



Job description

Biomedical Engineers 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.

  • Design and develop medical diagnostic and clinical instrumentation, equipment, and 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.
  • Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating and using budgets, and overseeing contract obligations and deadlines.
  • Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.
Read more about what does a Biomedical Engineer really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$95090 per year

Average hourly wage
$46 per hour


Biomedical Engineers with little to no experience tend to make between $51890 and $67830 while the more experienced ones can earn over $114930 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
MN $55 $114,380
NJ $54 $113,140
MA $51 $105,580
AZ $50 $103,650
CT $50 $102,970

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Biomedical Engineer is to move to a higher paying state like MN. Right now, the highest paying states for Biomedical Engineers are MN, NJ, MA, AZ and CT.

However, a higher pay at MN doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at MN might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Biomedical Engineer is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Bachelor’s degree

We asked other Biomedical Engineers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelor’s Degree followed by a Master’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Read more about how to become a Biomedical Engineer and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Biomedical Engineer.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally
Suitable for people who wants independence and likes to work on their own and make decisions
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
69%

Is this job meaningful
82%


69% of Biomedical Engineers said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Thinkers and The Builders

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.



Learn more about Biomedical Engineers

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Job Description
Salary
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Quiz

Related career information

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