Biomedical Engineers may work alone or as part of a team along with other engineers; medical and administrative personnel; life, social, and physical scientists; and other specialists. They may also direct, train, and supervise biomedical equipment technicians and other medical personnel in the proper use and maintenance of specialized equipment.

Most of these Engineers work in clean, well lighted medical, academic, industrial and government research laboratories as well as hospitals. Those who work in undersea and space programs are exposed to a variety of environmental conditions.

They may be exposed to hazards such as electrical shock, burns, radiation, noxious fumes, and communicable diseases. Their hazards are minimized by safety procedures and protective clothing.

Those working in research laboratories usually work 40 hours a week, from 8 am to 5 pm. Those in hospitals may work from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, but they are frequently on call in case of emergencies.

Biomedical Engineers might have to work overtime in both settings. Those who work in sales and field engineering may be required to travel extensively to install, repair, maintain, and sell equipment. Biomedical Engineers attend meetings and conferences and read professional journals to keep up with rapid changes in their field.

Some Engineers may belong to organizations representing employees where they work. They may also belong to professional associations such as the Biomedical Engineering Society of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, and the Alliance for Engineering in Medicine and Biology. Association members usually pay periodic dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a scientific and technical nature

• Activities relating to machines, processes, and methods

• Activities dealing with things and objects

You Should Be Able To:

• Think logically in a clear and organized manner

• Work with precise standards of accuracy/highly sensitive equipment

• Analyze and solve problems based on accurate information

• Understand and use high level mathematics

• Compare/see differences in size/shape/form of objects/lines/figures

• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing

• Understand medical terminology

• Direct, control, and plan projects and the activities of others

• Work well under pressure in critical, risky, or unexpected situations

• Perform a variety of tasks

Math Problem You Should Be Able To Solve:

Use the equation for the volume of a sphere to find the volume of a spherical implant with a radius of 3 centimeters.

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Corticosteroids may be prescribed for acute flare-ups. Even more potent drugs, such gold salts, penicillamine, and drugs to suppress the immune system, may slow the disease down in people with severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to write results about any new findings that you have come up with.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to decide on the best procedural experiments to test the quality of different products.

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School); a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond High School); a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1200 ELECTRONICS , 1800 HEALTH & HEALTH CAREERS , 2200 MATH , 2900 SCIENCE , 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

022 BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Programs in Biomedical Engineering provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to utilize principles of engineering and the bio-behavioral sciences, conduct life-systems research, and design life- support apparatus. Biomedical Engineers work in industries which specialize in the design and development of biomedical equipment. Biomedical Engineers must complete undergraduate programs. Programs in electrical and electronics, chemical, mechanical or general engineering are completed before entering graduate Biomedical Engineering Programs.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

058 ENGINEERING (PRE-PROFESSIONAL)

Pre-Engineering Programs provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required for admission to professional engineering colleges.

Many Michigan colleges and universities offer programs which may satisfy the prerequisites for admission to engineering schools. Students should contact the engineering schools of their choice for admission requirements and consult their school's pre-professional adviser to ensure that admission prerequisites will be met.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

The most common requirements for entering a community college are a high school diploma, or GED, or being at least 18 years old and completing application forms. In addition, entering a college or university may require graduation from high school in a college preparatory program, a grade point average acceptable to the school to which you apply, and passing entrance examinations.

Scientific and technical hobbies may provide preliminary exploration into this field. The Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) will offer high school students a chance to explore this field. College students may enter a postsecondary program in biomedical engineering. Cooperative education programs in biomedical engineering are available through various departments and agencies of the federal government. Military service may offer an opportunity for experience also.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Biomedical Engineer employer

internships

volunteer work with a Biomedical Engineer employer

community service work with an agency

Direct application to employers and taking civil service examinations are usual methods of entering the field. Jobs may be located through newspaper want ads, medical and professional publications, college placement offices, and college faculty members. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

The earnings of Biomedical Engineers depend on their education, experience, responsibilities, capabilities, or certification as well as type, size, and location of the employer. Generally, Engineers in administrative, sales, or consulting positions earn more than those in research or teaching positions earn.

Nationally, recent graduates of Bachelor's degree programs in Biomedical Engineering had beginning average salary offers of $75,500 in early 2009.

In early 2009, experienced Biomedical Engineers earned average salaries of $55,200 per year, with earnings ranging between $45,000 and $61,300 annually, while those in senior-level positions earned average salaries of $70,500 per year, with earnings ranging between $55,100 and $72,300.  Some Directors of Biomedical Engineers earned average salaries of $ 89,800 (early 2009) per year.  Biomedical Engineers in manufacturing generally earned more.

Beginning salaries for Biomedical Engineers with bachelor's degrees and employed by the federal government in 2009 were $35,135 or $43,521 annually, depending on their academic record. Engineers with master's degrees started at $43,521 or $53,234, while those with doctorates started at $53,234 or $61,362. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.

Biomedical Engineers employed in public colleges and universities earn salaries similar to wages of other engineering faculty members. Full professors of engineering earned salaries averaging about $130,446 in the 2007-2008 school year. New assistant professors of Engineering earned salaries averaging $71,922 per year. Some supplement their income by consulting and writing.

Depending on the employer, fringe benefits may include paid vacations, holidays, and sick leave; life, accident, health, and disability insurance; retirement plans; and tuition reimbursement. Engineers employed in hospitals may also receive dental and optical insurance. Some employers may offer stock purchase or savings plans.

Most graduates of Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in biomedical engineering start out as trainees. Others with backgrounds in aerospace, chemical, electrical, industrial, or mechanical engineering obtain a degree in biomedical engineering or take additional coursework to enter the field. After obtaining experience, Biomedical Engineers may enter managerial, administrative, or teaching positions. A career ladder may look like this: engineering trainee, Biomedical Engineer, lead engineer, manager or administrator. Advancements are usually based on experience, skill level, certification, completion of advanced degrees, and supervisory ability.

Nationally, there were about 14,400 Biomedical Engineers employed in 2006.  However, the demand for Biomedical Engineers is expected to be much greater than the supply. Although the actual number of job openings is not likely to be very large, employment should grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2016.

Opportunities will be best for Engineers with advanced degrees. Greatest demand will be in teaching, medical research, and systems for the delivery of health services. The industry distribution for Biomedical Engineers looked like this: