Biomedical Engineer: Career Profile for the Biomedical Engineering Field
Interested in a career in engineering, but fascinated by the science of medicine as well? Perhaps you might want to look into employment in the field of biomedical engineering.
Biomedical Engineer Job Description
A biomedical engineer works with other professionals in the medical field to solve health-related issues with the use of applied technology through means of engineering techniques and practices. Some of the applications developed by biomedical engineers include such devices as prosthetic limbs, artificial organs or organ enhancers (such as pacemakers), or instruments used to perform medical procedures (such as the magnetic resonance imager, or MRI). A biomedical engineer may specialize in a particular area such as medical imaging, biomechanics, or rehabilitation engineering.
Education Requirements?
Anyone employed in the biomedical engineering field will need at the least a bachelor's degree in engineering. In addition to studying the required background courses of mathematics and physical and life sciences, a biomedical engineer will also need special coursework in the biomedical area. The 2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov) states that most biochemical engineers will also need additional training in another engineering specialty, one such as mechanical or electronic engineering.
Salary Information
The average starting salary for a biomedical engineer with a bachelor's degree is $48,503 per year, according to the 2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov), whereas with a master's degree the biomedical engineer can expect to start out making $59,667 per year. The median salary in the biomedical engineering field is $67,690 per year, while at the top end it rises to $107,530 per year.
Economic Outlook
The 2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov) projects that demand for biomedical engineers will grow by over 27% through the year 2014, driven by the aging population and increased emphasis on health care issues at all levels of society. Increased competition for these jobs, however, necessitates that a truly competitive job applicant seek additional training, and study at the master's degree level is recommended for all potential biomedical engineers.
