Last Updated on December 14, 2022

The following article provides you with important details about what job can i get with a masters in biomedical engineering which can help you determine how to get a job with a masters in biomedical engineering

CollegeLearners offers detailed information on what jobs can i get with a masters in biomedical engineering,best biomedical engineering jobs,how to get a job in biomedical engineering and other important topics

What Do Bioengineers Do?

Before answering the bioengineer salary question, it’s helpful to get a better understanding of what bioengineers’ work is like. The Bureau of Labor Statistics effectively summarizes what they do on a day-to-day basis. In general, bioengineers design, install, evaluate and create the machines and medical devices that physicians use to treat and diagnose patients. Because so much of their expertise involves biomechanics, they must be proficient in mechanical engineering. Several of the classes in the online Master of Science in Engineering program revolve around the branch of study, including Introduction to Microelectromechanical Systems, Sustainable Product Design as well as Design and Analysis of Engineering Experiments, each of which is a four credit-hour course. As you’ll discover, many of the courses within bioengineering have some overlap with similar branches, such as environmental engineering.

Despite being different professions, each uses many of the same problem-solving skills to achieve results, with the ultimate goal of bettering the public’s overall health and well-being through the use of state-of-the-art equipment, software and intelligent devices. Their capabilities in these capacities – in addition to their expertise obtained through schooling and on-the-job experience – are among the main reasons why bioengineers, in particular, are so well compensated.

If you want to combine your love for engineering with the ability to design life-saving medical products, a career in biomedical engineering may be your calling. Advances in technology and the need to care for an aging population make biomedical engineers one of the most in-demand positions in the country.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that there are nearly 20,000 biomedical engineering positions in the country as of 2018, and that they will grow at a rate of 4 percent by 2028.¹ Biomedical engineers work in medical institutions, manufacturing and research facilities, universities and more. They design surgical robotics tools, implantable medical devices, 3-D printing for organs and other life-saving innovations.

Obtaining a Master of Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering or a Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering degree can help position graduates to thrive in a variety of rewarding careers. Employees with a master’s degree make an average of at least $11,600 more per year compared to those with a bachelor’s degree.² A Master of Engineering or MS in Biomedical Engineering can help give grads:

• An opportunity for upward mobility in your current company
• The ability to apply for leadership roles
• The opportunity for higher pay
• The ability to take on more responsibilities
• Increased knowledge, leading to expanded job satisfaction and duties

Are you wondering exactly what you can do with a biomedical engineering degree? Here, we cover some of the most exciting types of jobs in biomedical engineering.

Types Of Biomedical Engineering Jobs

1. Biomaterials Developer

Biomedical engineers may develop biomaterials, which can be either natural living tissue or artificial materials, for the human body to use. Tissue engineering, biomedical implant development, drug delivery and nano implants are all areas that a biomaterials developer may work in. Biomaterials can be used to either repair or replace lost function to the body, or to detect and image disease.

2. Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing engineers are involved with the design and production of products, striving to create goods that are low-cost and high-quality. In the biomedical field, these products are typically developed for use in the healthcare industry.

They can include laboratory or hospital equipment, prosthetic limbs, imaging tools and more. Manufacturing engineers with biomedical engineering backgrounds can take leadership positions in the design of these products, or manage teams who are creating them.

3. Independent Consultant

Independent consultants in the biomedical engineering field work with medical organizations and research institutions to provide guidance and recommendations. Their input can affect how processes are executed, what type of equipment to use, how to organize a workforce and other crucial decisions.

Independent biomedical consultants may work with a variety of businesses, and they sometimes consult with organizations for long periods of time. Consultants can grow relationships while also reaping the benefits of diverse experiences with a variety of stakeholders.

4. Doctor

Some biomedical engineering professionals go on to pursue a medical degree in order to become a physician or surgeon. Doctor and surgeon positions are expected to grow 13 percent from 2018 to 2028 (faster than average), according to the BLS.³ Doctors and surgeons can work in small offices or large hospitals, working on tasks ranging from major surgeries to diagnosing and treating diseases.

5. Biomedical Scientist/Researcher

Biomedical scientists and researchers use clinical trials to conduct research for improving human health, carrying out scientific laboratory tests to find solutions to medical problems. They research information that aids in the development of biomedical technology and test products so that they are safe for consumers.

Biomedical researchers may also work in the field of biomechanics, which involves simulating medical problems and body systems to aid in the creation of biomedical devices. The BLS projects the job growth rate for medical scientists to be 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is faster than average.⁴

6. Rehabilitation Engineer

Biomedical engineers who work in a field dedicated to rehabilitation may work on diverse projects. These can range from mechanical equipment that helps patients regain the ability to walk to virtual reality systems that aid in limb mobility. Rehabilitation engineers may also create custom solutions based on unique needs or research improvements that can be made in rehabilitation technology.

7. Medical Technology Developer

Medical technology can refer to the hardware and software that help manufacture medical devices, as well as to the technology that is an integral part of those devices. Medical technology professionals with biomedical engineering backgrounds may specialize in bioinstrumentation, or the use of bioelectronic instruments to record or transmit physiological information. This type of equipment includes pacemakers, blood pressure monitors and electrocardiographs.

Interested in Biomedical Engineering Careers Like These?

There is so much potential when you study biomedical engineering, in terms of both career growth and the impact you can make on the world. Learn more about the curriculum for the online MS in Biomedical Engineering and the online Master of Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve, which is ranked in the top 20 in the nation for graduate biomedical engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report.⁵

What Types of Jobs Can I Get In Biomedical Engineering?

Biomedical engineering is one of the hottest fields right now, and the types of jobs in biomedical engineering pay some of the highest starting salaries you can currently get. Being a fusion of healthcare and engineering, the two areas of study that are consistently praised for offering the best job prospects for students, biomedical engineering involves applying engineering principles to create solutions for healthcare and usually deals with the design and development of medical products, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you plan on having a career in this cutting-edge sector, you’d probably be interested to know what kinds of biomedical jobs are out there. Here are some popular sub-fields in biomedical engineering and a handful of job titles that you could potentially hold with a biomedical engineering background.

Common Biomedical Engineering Specialties

Bioinstrumentation

Bioinstrumentation involves designing and developing tools and equipment that are used to diagnose and treat diseases. Most of these technologies are advanced electronic devices that function cooperatively with a computer.

Biomaterials

Biomaterials professionals are tasked with designing and developing materials that are suitable for use within the human body. These implant materials must be completely safe for patients, and that means the absence of carcinogenic properties and toxins. Implant materials also need to be structurally sound so that they can last a lifetime and chemically stable and inert. Some biomaterials make use of living cells for better assimilation into body.

Biomechanics

This sub-field deals with the body’s movements. Engineers who specialize in biomechanics focus on designing and developing products that aid with motion within the body. Artificial heart valves and joint replacements are examples of biomedical products that assist with the flow of blood and motor functions, respectively.

Cellular, Tissue, and Genetic Engineering

Biomedical professionals who specialize in this area work on the microscopic level to find solutions for bigger problems. Concentrating on cellular activity makes it easier to understand the progression of diseases and develop ways to remedy or halt them before it’s too late.

Clinical Engineering

Clinical engineers find uses for medical products in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. They work alongside physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel to help them implement and operate the technologies.

Medical Imaging

Biomedical engineers who work in medical imaging design and develop devices that allow healthcare professionals to see inside the human body.

Orthopedic Bioengineering

Orthopedic bioengineers design and develop products that deal with the bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments. These products mainly comprise of implants that assist with movement. The implants may work in conjunction with the surrounding tissues, or they may completely replace certain bones, muscles, joints, or ligaments.

Rehabilitation Engineering

The primary focus of these engineers is to design and develop prosthetics so that people can regain normal function in damaged body parts.

Systems Physiology

Engineering principles and tools are used to gain a comprehensive understanding of how various living organisms function.

How long does it take to get a biomedical engineering degree?

Most roles in health care require several years of schooling. Medical scientists are a classic example, who typically need a medical degree in addition to their undergraduate. The role of bioengineer is a rare exception. A bachelor’s degree is the typical level of education needed for entry-level professionals. However, a number of biomedical engineering jobs require a master’s degree.

Although there are always exceptions, the more education you obtain, the higher the potential reward. Among all professions, individuals with a professional degree in 2017 had an average salary that paid approximately $700 more per week than those with only a bachelor’s degree, according to the most recent statistics available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those with a master’s degree earned roughly $300 more.

How much does the average bioengineer make?

All this being said, what can you expect to earn with a bioengineering salary? As is so often the case, it depends on several factors, including who you ask, the type of bioengineer job that’s available, location and years of experience.

For instance, in 2018, the median bioengineer salary was $88,550 per year, according to BLS analysis. That translates to an hourly rate of roughly $42.50.

Speak to bioengineers in research and development, though, and they may tell you a different salary story. In May 2018 – the most recent month for which complete government data was available – bioengineers earned a median of $93,250. Those in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing made less at $83,450 per year, with biomedical engineers employed at colleges, universities and other academic institutions earning $69,100. That is still higher than what the average household receives in annual wages.

Meanwhile, bioengineers in navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing saw the highest annual wages in 2018. The median was $101,960.

Overall – meaning biomedical engineers, in general – the top 10% earned $144,350 annually, BLS data showed. In short, a six-figure salary is more than possible – it’s probable. The more years of experience you have, the greater the likelihood of a high-paying job.

Other highly respected organizations and publications corroborate BLS’ facts and figures. The American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering says bioengineers in research and development currently make the most on average at nearly $102,600. The typical bioengineering salary in pharmaceuticals is roughly $98,610 and $95,000 in medical equipment manufacturing.

As previously referenced, where a job may open in biomedical engineering in the U.S. can also influence actual earnings. According to the Economic Research Institute, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the average is $124,000, and nearby Columbus, the typical bioengineering salary is $146,000.

Meanwhile, in Massachusetts’ capital city of Boston, bioengineers earn $146,000 annually. Bioengineering salary levels are influenced by demand, the nature of the job and cost of living, among other factors.

The same goes for countries. While U.S.-based bioengineering salary levels are generally the most lucrative, others include Japan ($92,956 per year), Switzerland ($93,575) and Australia ($87,650), based on figures compiled by ERI.

These figures are all related to what the bioengineer salary is today. But what about tomorrow, meaning several years from now? Earnings are expected to surge, potentially by as much as 16% over a five-year period. Specifically, by 2024, the estimated salary could top $146,800, according to ERI.

Is Bioengineering A Good Career?

If you have a passion for medicine but also enjoy the tasks that electronics engineers engage in, biomedical engineering is the perfect combination. It is a multidisciplinary profession that allows you to work in many different capacities toward the common goal of helping people experience longer more fulfilling lives. Whether it is the electrical circuitry that runs medical equipment or designing prosthetics that replace limbs, a biomedical engineering career is richly rewarding – in more ways than one.

All this and much more is possible with an online Master’s in Engineering degree from UC Riverside. Enjoy the flexibility of making your own schedule by completing the program entirely online; you don’t need to live in California to do so. Better yet, the curriculum is custom designed with your busy schedule in mind, enabling you to complete and receive your diploma in 13 months’ time.