Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.

Biomedical engineers work in manufacturing, universities, hospitals, research facilities of companies and educational and medical institutions, and government regulatory agencies. They usually work full time.

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.

Employment of biomedical engineers is projected to grow 23 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growing technology and its application to medical equipment and devices, along with an aging population, will increase demand for the work of biomedical engineers.

This occupation supported 19,400 jobs in 2012 and 22,100 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 13.9%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 26.8% in 2022 to 24,600 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 20,400, compared with an observed value of 22,100, 8.3% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 26.3% in 2024 to 27,200 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 25,600 jobs for 2024, 5.9% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation.