Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

What Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers Do

Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

None

On-the-job training

None

Self-employed

0.2%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Engineering and Technologyimportance 4.6/5
• Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.5/5
• Mathematicsimportance 4.4/5
• Designimportance 4.0/5
• Physicsimportance 4.0/5
• Biologyimportance 3.8/5
• English Languageimportance 3.8/5
• Medicine and Dentistryimportance 3.7/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• E-Mail4.9/5
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.6/5
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.4/5
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.3/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.3/5
• Spend Time Sitting4.0/5

Related Careers

• Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Engineers, All Other
• Biological Scientists, All Other
• Biochemists and Biophysicists
• Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other
• Data Scientists
• Chemists
• Chemical Engineers

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Computer Hardware Engineers92% skill match
• Biochemists and Biophysicists87% skill match
• Computer Network Architects86% skill match
• Physicists85% skill match
• Aerospace Engineers84% skill match
• Database Administrators84% skill match
• Software Developers83% skill match
• Mechanical Engineers83% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.9/5
• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.9/5
• Operations Analysisimportance 3.8/5
• Systems Analysisimportance 3.6/5
• Systems Evaluationimportance 3.5/5
• Technology Designimportance 3.4/5
• Instructingimportance 3.1/5
• Programmingimportance 3.1/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Intellectual Curiosity
• Attention to Detail
• Innovation
• Dependability
• Cautiousness
• Adaptability
• Integrity

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• InvestigativeHigh
• RealisticHigh
• ConventionalMedium
• SocialLow
• ArtisticLow
• EnterprisingLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where bioengineers and biomedical engineers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1Bloomington, IN12.01× national avg
2. 2Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH9.90× national avg
3. 3Worcester, MA6.43× national avg
4. 4Durham-Chapel Hill, NC5.60× national avg
5. 5Boulder, CO4.06× national avg

Possible Career Moves

A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.

• Biochemists and BiophysicistsCareer Change
• Computer Hardware EngineersLateral Move
• Information Security AnalystsCareer Change
• Computer Network ArchitectsCareer Change

See the full career path from Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers →

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.