Careers & Employment
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics*, Biomedical Engineers have excellent job prospects and earning potential in coming years. A 2010 report stated:
Employment
Biomedical engineers held about 16,000 jobs in 2008. Manufacturing industries employed 36 percent of all biomedical engineers, primarily in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing and medical instruments and supplies industries. Many others worked for hospitals. Some also worked for government agencies or as independent consultants.
Job Outlook
Employment of biomedical engineers is expected to grow much faster than average (72% from 2008-2018) for all occupations. The aging of the population and the focus on health issues will increase the demand for better medical devices and equipment designed by biomedical engineers. For example, computer-assisted surgery and molecular, cellular, and tissue engineering are being more heavily researched and are developing rapidly. In addition, the rehabilitation and orthopedic engineering specialties are growing quickly, increasing the need for biomedical engineers. Along with the demand for more sophisticated medical equipment and procedures is an increased concern for cost efficiency and effectiveness that also will boost demand for biomedical engineers. However, because of the growing interest in this field, the number of degrees granted in biomedical engineering has increased greatly, leading to the potential for competition for jobs.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of biomedical engineers were $77,400 in 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $59,420 and $98,830. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,650, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,970.
According to a 2005 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor’s degree candidates in biomedical engineering received starting offers averaging $52,355 a year, and master’s degree candidates, on average, were offered $61,000.
O*Net-The Occupational Information Network
Provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupation.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Biomedical Engineers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm.
School of Engineering Career Consultant
John Bau, Career Consultant, School of Engineering
Department of Career Services
University of Connecicut
Engineering II, Room 320A
191 Auditorium Road Unit 3187
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3187
Phone: 860.486.6666
Fax: 860.486.3045
john.bau@uconn.edu