How to Become a Biomedical Engineer
A Biomedical Engineer's work varies from designing prosthetics and artificial organs to creating and developing technology used to monitor, diagnose, and heal patients, as well as monitoring and testing equipment, and software and offering training to the medical staff using it, and so on.
As a scientist who hopes to bridge the gap between and even fuse two complex branches of knowledge - medicine and engineering - biomedical engineering has various areas of study within it.
To work as such a Biomedical Engineer you will need to obtain at least a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering or a related field. Gaining certain certifications and going through accredited programs might be a wise investment for the future of your career.
What Does a Biomedical Engineer Do
Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.
How To Become a Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or bioengineering from an accredited program in order to enter the occupation. Alternatively, they can get a bachelor’s degree in a different field of engineering and then either choose biological science electives or get a graduate degree in biomedical engineering.
EducationProspective biomedical engineering or bioengineering students should take high school science courses, such as chemistry, physics, and biology. They should also take math courses, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Courses in drafting or mechanical drawing and in computer programming are also useful.
Bachelor’s degree programs in biomedical engineering and bioengineering focus on engineering and biological sciences. Programs include laboratory-based courses, in addition to classroom-based courses, in subjects such as fluid and solid mechanics, computer programming, circuit design, and biomaterials. Other required courses may include biological sciences, such as physiology.
Accredited programs also include substantial training in engineering design. Many programs include co-ops or internships, often with hospitals and medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, to provide students with practical applications as part of their study. Biomedical engineering and bioengineering programs are accredited by ABET.
Important QualitiesAnalytical skills. Biomedical engineers must be able to analyze the needs of patients and customers to design appropriate solutions.
Communication skills. Because biomedical engineers sometimes work with patients and frequently work on teams, they must be able to express themselves clearly. They must seek others’ ideas and incorporate those ideas into the problem-solving process.
Creativity. Biomedical engineers must be creative to come up with innovative and integrative advances in healthcare equipment and devices.
Math skills. Biomedical engineers use the principles of calculus and other advanced topics in mathematics, as well as statistics, for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.
Problem-solving skills. Biomedical engineers typically deal with and solve problems in complex biological systems.
AdvancementBiomedical engineers typically receive greater responsibility through experience and more education. To lead a research team, a biomedical engineer generally needs a graduate degree. Some biomedical engineers attend medical or dental school to specialize in applications at the forefront of patient care, such as using electric impulses in new ways to get muscles moving again. Some earn law degrees and work as patent attorneys. Others pursue a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) and move into managerial positions. For more information, see the profiles on lawyers and architectural and engineering managers.
Biomedical Engineer Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of field service technician you might progress to a role such as engineer eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title project engineering manager.
Average Salary for a Biomedical Engineer
What Am I Worth?
Top Colleges for Biomedical Engineers
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
4. University of California - San Diego
La Jolla, CA • Private
5. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA • Private
9. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
10. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Top Skills For a Biomedical Engineer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 8.0% of biomedical engineers listed medical devices on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Biomedical Engineer Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Biomedical Engineer templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Biomedical Engineer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Biomedical Engineer Demographics
Biomedical Engineer Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among biomedical engineers, 25.0% of them are women, while 75.0% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among biomedical engineers is White, which makes up 59.1% of all biomedical engineers.
- The most common foreign language among biomedical engineers is Spanish at 36.8%.
Online Courses For Biomedical Engineer That You May Like
Maintaining and troubleshooting sophisticated medical instruments is not an easy task. In order to deliver effective care, the technician requires the knowledge of different aspects of biology and engineering. The different devices work in so many different ways and the literature about repair and troubleshooting is often hard to come by. It can be quite frustrating to search for solutions every time the operator encounters a problem. There is added pressure because the availability of medical...
The course is aimed at university-level students of all engineering backgrounds, who would like to learn the basics of modern biomedical engineering, including the development of human-robotic interfaces and systems such as bionic prosthetics. The course is covering the practical basics of almost everything that a modern biomedical engineer is required to know: electronics, control theory, microcontrollers (Arduino), and high-level programming (MATLAB). All covered disciplines do not require any...
Imaging technologies form a significant component of the health budgets of all developed economies, and most people need advanced imaging such as MRIs, X-Rays and CT Scans (or CAT Scans) during their life. Many of us are aware of the misinformation sometimes offered in TV dramas, which either exaggerates the benefits or overemphasizes the risks. This medical imaging course provides an introduction to biomedical imaging and modern imaging modalities. The course also covers the basic scientific...
Best States For a Biomedical Engineer
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a biomedical engineer. The best states for people in this position are Massachusetts, Maryland, California, and Indiana. Biomedical engineers make the most in Massachusetts with an average salary of $92,409. Whereas in Maryland and California, they would average $90,258 and $89,139, respectively. While biomedical engineers would only make an average of $88,570 in Indiana, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Massachusetts
$92,409
Avg. Salary
2. Maryland
$90,258
Avg. Salary
3. Indiana
$88,570
Avg. Salary
How Do Biomedical Engineer Rate Their Jobs?
5.0
5.0
Rewarding profession. • June 2019What do you like the most about working as Biomedical Engineer?
Inventing smart ways of mproving human lives. Show MoreWhat do you NOT like?
Low salary compared to other engineering fields. Show MoreTop Biomedical Engineer Employers
Most Common Employers For Biomedical Engineer
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intuitive Surgical | $108,731 | $52.27 | 10 |
| 2 | Analog Devices | $98,511 | $47.36 | 8 |
| 3 | Boston Scientific | $95,629 | $45.98 | 12 |
| 4 | Abbott | $94,224 | $45.30 | 9 |
| 5 | Stryker | $92,355 | $44.40 | 13 |
| 6 | BD | $90,347 | $43.44 | 12 |
| 7 | General Electric | $88,167 | $42.39 | 24 |
| 8 | Hillrom | $86,932 | $41.79 | 8 |
| 9 | Medtronic | $86,714 | $41.69 | 96 |
| 10 | TeraRecon | $83,576 | $40.18 | 17 |
Biomedical Engineer Videos
Becoming a Biomedical Engineer FAQs
Do biomedical engineers go to med school?
No, biomedical engineers do not go to med school. While med school is not a requirement to enter this career path, there are significant educational requirements.
A biomedical engineer needs to earn at least a bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, or some other similar field. Some biomedical engineers may choose to go to med school or get a master's degree in biomedical engineering, but this is not required to work in the field.
How many years does it take to become a biomedical engineer?
It typically takes four years of education and two years of work experience to become a biomedical engineer. This usually covers the time it takes to earn a bachelor's and either gain a master's degree or work experience in the field.
Is biomedical engineering a good career?
Yes, biomedical engineering is a good career. Like most roles in healthcare, choosing to become a biomedical engineer is a good career decision. This position is in high demand and comes with very comfortable salaries.
Is it hard to be a biomedical engineer?
No, it is not hard to be a biomedical engineer. At least, no harder than any other kind of engineer. While this field, in general, is hard to get into, for people who have an aptitude for engineering, it is challenging but rewarding.