SOC 17-2031.00Bright outlook

    Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

    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.

    Median pay
    $109,370
    Growth
    +7.6%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    1,200
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $71,850
    Median
    $109,370
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $168,180
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    23,480 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Bioengineers and biomedical engineers design and evaluate health, biological, and agricultural systems, including artificial organs and prostheses. They earn a median annual salary of $109,370, with opportunities growing faster than average.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What bioengineers and biomedical engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Professionals in this field combine engineering principles with biology, chemistry, and computer science to develop medical devices, health management systems, and agricultural products. On a daily basis, these engineers focus on analyzing data, solving complex problems, and working with computers to design new technologies. They gather and process information, think creatively to invent new solutions, and evaluate their designs to ensure they meet strict standards.

    Succeeding in this role requires strong investigative interests and intellectual curiosity. Engineers must use critical thinking, mathematics, science, and active learning to address biological challenges. They need a solid foundation in engineering, physics, medicine, and chemistry. Because they frequently collaborate with other scientists and supervisors, strong communication skills like speaking, writing, and active listening are essential. Attention to detail, dependability, and cooperation help these professionals work safely and effectively in laboratory and clinical environments.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Students preparing for this field usually major in biomedical or medical engineering, chemical engineering, or biological and biosystems engineering.

    Because this work involves considerable preparation, gaining practical experience through internships or research projects is highly beneficial. While a degree is the standard entry point, some states also list specific licensing options for individuals practicing in this field.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for bioengineers and biomedical engineers is $109,370. The lowest 10 percent of earners in this field make less than $71,850, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $168,180.

    There are currently 23,480 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 7.6 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 1,200 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    74 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    96 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    18 / 100
    Social (S)
    24 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    14 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    58 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code IRC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    93
    Analyzing Data or Information
    90
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    86
    Getting Information
    85
    Processing Information
    84
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    84
    Thinking Creatively
    82
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    81
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    78
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    77
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Mathematics
    • Science
    • Active Learning

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Mathematics
    • Design
    • Physics
    • Biology
    • English Language
    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Education and Training
    • Chemistry

    Abilities

    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision
    • Fluency of Ideas

    Work styles

    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Attention to Detail
    • Innovation
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Adaptability
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Cooperation
    • Perseverance

    Also called

    Analytical Biochemical Engineer · Biochemical Development Engineer · Biochemical Engineer · Biochemistry Chemical Engineering Analyst · Bioengineer · Bioinformatics Engineer · Biomaterials Engineer · Biomechanical Engineer · Biomedical Analytical Scientist · Biomedical Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to bioengineers and biomedical engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$109,370 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Pennsylvania UPENN logo
      University of Pennsylvania UPENN

      Philadelphia, PA · Biomedical/Medical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $94,928
      4 yrs after
      $126,419
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT logo
      Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT

      Cambridge, MA · Chemical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $103,310
      4 yrs after
      $122,093
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3Vanderbilt University logo
      Vanderbilt University

      Nashville, TN · Chemical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $84,790
      4 yrs after
      $121,641
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4Rice University logo
      Rice University

      Houston, TX · Biomedical/Medical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $121,099
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5University of California-Berkeley CAL logo
      University of California-Berkeley CAL

      Berkeley, CA · Chemical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $89,950
      4 yrs after
      $121,027
      Median debt
      $16,167
    6. 6University of California-Los Angeles UCLA logo
      University of California-Los Angeles UCLA

      Los Angeles, CA · Biomedical/Medical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $73,927
      4 yrs after
      $116,525
      Median debt
      $13,000
    7. 7Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Chemical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $90,501
      4 yrs after
      $116,165
      Median debt
      $13,500
    8. 8Lafayette College logo
      Lafayette College

      Easton, PA · Chemical Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $76,625
      4 yrs after
      $115,726
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What bioengineers and biomedical engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
    • Biological/Biosystems Engineering
    • Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    50 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Questions about bioengineers and biomedical engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What college majors are best for becoming a biomedical engineer?

    Students typically prepare for this career by majoring in biomedical or medical engineering, chemical engineering, or biological and biosystems engineering. These programs provide the necessary foundation in engineering, biology, and chemistry.

    What is the job outlook for bioengineers?

    Employment in this field is projected to grow by 7.6 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average growth rate. This expansion is expected to create about 1,200 job openings each year.

    What do bioengineers do on a daily basis?

    They spend their time working with computers, analyzing data, and solving complex problems to design health systems and medical products. They also evaluate their designs to ensure they comply with safety and industry standards.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.