What is a Biomedical Engineer?
The branch of biomedical engineering or else known as bio-engineering is based on the engineering principles that are applied to fields such as those mentioned before. A biomedical engineer will deal with developing the right systems, equipment’s and even devices to help solving the clinical problems. Their best reward is to have developed a series or a number of technologies that can save many lives and that enhance these lives.
Job Description of a Biomedical Engineer
Working as a biomedical engineer can mean pretty much only benefits. The fact that you are part of a huge team that includes chemists, life scientists, or medical scientists will bring you a step closer to finding solutions. The day by day tasks in the work of a biomedical engineer involves research along other team members on aspects involving the biological system of humans and animals, mainly the engineering ones.
By using the engineering principles and the bio-behavioral sciences, these professionals can design and develop clinical instrumentation, and equipment, develop medical diagnostic, and all kind of various procedures. They will do research for new materials, in cases that you can use them on products, such as implanting artificial organs.
When the medical science kicks in a biomedical engineer job will also be to adapt and even design computer software and hardware to the correct parameters of being used in this field. They will also assist people with complex or severe disabilities by creating and delivering the necessary technology.
Any biomedical equipment needs a professional like this that will install, maintain, repair, adjust, and even evaluate the safety and efficiency of these machines. The daily part of these professional also involves providing the right documentation in describing, policies, the standard use, protocols, maintenance and repair of the medical equipment.
His or her duty is also to conduct or manage a team of engineers by writing schedules, tracking inventories, creating budgets and using them, and overseeing deadlines and the obligations that appear in contracts.
How to Become a Biomedical Engineer?
Like in any other career, it all starts from high school. Getting good grades and taking part in the courses that will help you follow the line of your dream career are information that will help you step forward. It all links to get into a good and accredited university, you’ll need to have good grades. Try to do some extracurricular, take AP courses.
The field of biomedical engineer has to deal a lot with the fields of biology and chemistry, while you are in high school try to take as many classes as you can in science. You might consider courses in biology, chemistry, AP Biology and AP Chemistry, and even chemistry in medicine and other.
After you’ve succeeded in earning your high school diploma enroll yourself into a good undergraduate school that will take you to your next step. The courses here are also focused in chemistry the coursework will involve subjects such as inorganic or organic chemistry.
To make your application stand out try to focus on getting good grades in the undergraduate school as well, gain some work experience by doing some volunteer work alongside an engineer. Try as well to do some research and make sure that you’re going to publish it.
The next step will be to obtain the graduate admission, this is considered to be the equal of the four-year engineering school that comes after the undergraduate one. Do the same as you did before, keep your grades high and try to get an internship or an apprenticeship. After the graduate school, you are ready for entering in the field.
This is not all being a biomedical engineer will require from your part to be able to understand several areas of engineering and possess certain critical skills that will help you in the specific area of engineering application. You will have to study as well psychology, organic chemistry, computer science or even biomechanics.
The technology is always advancing, and so are the new applications and in order to keep up you’ll need to continue with your training and study on this path. As a biomedical engineer you might be asked to design an artificial heart. Such a design will require some extensive knowledge of electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as knowing the fluid dynamics linked with the understanding of the cardiology and physiology process.
Work Environment and Schedule
The typical places in which this professional can be seen includes settings such as research companies, medical institutions, hospitals, educational institutions, universities, manufacturing, and other government regulatory agencies. A biomedical engineer usually works a full-time job. You will also find these professionals working in local, or private sector, or in development services, military and other.
As a biomedical engineer your work setting will involve also being a part of a team with other specialty members such as scientists, engineers and healthcare workers. For instance if you’re going to help a person with disability to walk again and you’d developed a new device in order to help that person then you’ll have to spend hours in a hospital making sure that the device works as you’ve planned it all along.
If there is a way to improve this device then you’ll have to return to the manufacturer to alter the manufacturing process to improve the design. Returning to the working schedule this also proves that occasionally as a biomedical engineer you’ll have to work additional hours in order to improve the quality of a product or to meet and fulfill the needs of your patients, colleagues, clients and managers.
Pros and Cons of Being a Biomedical Engineer
The best thing when thinking about the field of biomedical engineering is the fact that as an employer you get choose where you’d like to work. You can choose from a variety of settings that include laboratories, hospitals, universities and even manufacturing facilities. Your best reward, as your job indicates, will be to find solutions to the problems that occur often in the field of biology and medicine. It is also a great feeling that you can bring hope for many people and also to improve the quality of patient care.
Another pro seen in this career are the job prospects, where based on the estimations that were made there is a great growth in this field that has a much higher rate than any other average job growth. The number of demanding is reaching higher and higher due to the aging population. The elderly are in need even more than ever for medical care and also due to an awareness of the role that is played by the Biomedical Engineers.
People who are interested in a career in this field will find some great benefits such as good salary, jobs opportunities in different and various industries such as manufacturing, education, and even in the medical field. You also get chances of advancement or orientation in the field through several specializations that are granted. You can choose from specializations such as biomaterials, bioinstrumentation and other.
Let’s not forget that this career also has its drawbacks or cons that sometimes will make you think twice before you really decide upon this job. One of the main disadvantages that many times occur at the working place in this field is the exposure to transmittable diseases, infections, noxious fumes, and radiation. Using the right procedures can save your life many times, and it will help you avoid all these potential hazardous circumstances.
If you are thinking about the opportunity of advancement, then you should be aware that a graduate degree is typically required for this kind of choices, this will mean a student loan or some financial debts. The schedule when you are working as a biomedical engineer assumes some extra hours of work besides the regular ones.
Biomedical Engineering job growth
The employment growth for biomedical engineering is predicted at 23% rate of increase. This increase is mainly due to several important factors such as the constant growth in the technology and its applications, linked to the medical devices and medical equipment, and on the other hand the aging population that needs more and more the aid of these professionals.
With the number of demanding increasing, plenty of job opportunities for biomedical engineering will be created in the next couple of years. They can find work in a variety of setting and facilities from hospitals and up to universities, research facilities, or in manufacturing settings and many more.
Biomedical Engineering Salary
In the United States, the salary of a Biomedical Engineer has an average that is estimated to be around $90,210 per year. The salary also has lower and higher points that have to be taken into consideration. A person that is gaining a lower biomedical engineering salary will take home an income estimated to be around $52,610 per year and even lower, while the highest percent of individuals working in this field will take home an estimated salary that reaches about $139,455 per year and even more.
There are some estimations being made according to the surveys that indicate a growth in the salary and job opportunities. The salary of a Biomedical Engineer is also influenced according to various factors that will include the toy paying industries, by each state, and the years of experience gained at work.
For instance the top paying industries can be found in the field of scientific and research development that will allow to any of these professionals a salary that can reach at about $100,782 per year, physician’s offices where you can gain a salary of about $100,272 per year and other.
An entry level biomedical engineer according to the type of industry in which he or she is working can expect to a salary that is estimated to range between $40,897 per year and $83,336 per year. The years of experience related to a mid-career professional will lead to an income that varies from $43,532 per year and up to $104,719 per year. Those that already went higher and have even more experience in this field can expect a salary between $46,703 per year and up to $128,126 per year.
The average rates that can be found according to the top paying states can be seen in Colorado that will grant a salary that reaches at about $104,552 per year, California, with a salary estimated at about $101,572, Virginia with an income of about $97,793 per year and other.
Salary of a Biomedical Engineer in 2015
A good job in the field of biomedical engineer in 2015, in the US, is estimated to be a lot more paid for those who are already possessing a graduate degree. The entry-level positions in this field have an income that reaches about $52,610 per year but with great opportunities for advancement. This can lead in time to an increase in the salary and the position as well, taking these professionals to the opportunity of earning an income estimated at $139,455 per year.
Biomedical Engineering Salary in 2016
In 2016, the average median income for a biomedical engineering, in the US, is estimated to reach out at $63,542 per year. The starting point in the rates of these salaries is $46,832 per year and up to $94,861 per year, according to the salary data survey information offered by PayScale. The bonus that is received by these professionals has an average of $10,046, while the profit sharing reaches at $8,005. The total payment is now comprised from $45,452 per year and up to $98,151 per year.
There are certain factors that impact the salaries and bring up different values in the earnings, such as the geographical location, type of employment, industry, company size as well as years of experience in the field. Associated with high earnings and increased paid jobs are Project Management and Clinical Research skills. More than half of the individuals who work as biomedical engineering are men rather than women.
When it comes to the years of experience, the incomes for those who are in the category of experienced employees are higher but tend to decrease gradually for those who are with more than 20 years of work experience. For instance an entry-level biomedical engineering with less than five years of experience in the field can expect to take home around $61,010 per year, while one with 5 and up to 10 years of experience gains around $79,010 per year.
As reminded earlier the highest point in the salary of a biomedical engineering is in the experienced level, where those who have between 10 and up to 20 years of working activity and practice can expect to take home around $87,010 per year. On the other hand a Late-Career professional, with more than 20 years of experience can expect to gain only around $78,010 per year.
The national average salary for biomedical engineering is estimated at $63,567 per year. The best paying salaries are to be found in regions such as Boston, where the earnings reach at $68,282 per year, an average that is estimated as being above the national average, and Minneapolis with a median total payment that reaches at $66,467 per year. Below the national average are regions such as New York, where these professionals are paid with a median total average of $59,421 per year and Cleveland where the paid earnings reach at $54,007 per year.
According to Indeed.com, the average earnings for biomedical engineering are estimated to reach at $82,010 per year. The average incomes for jobs with related titles have different values. For instance a Clinical Engineer can expect to gain an average income of $74,010 per year, while a Project Manager Senior Engineer will gain around $123,010 per year.
Biomedical Engineering Salary in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom
- In Canada, the basic estimated salaries for Biomedical Engineers have an average that reaches from C$40,174 per year and up to C$84,139 per year. To this, you can add a bonus that can go up to C$10,367 per year leading than to a total biomedical engineer salary in Canada value estimated to be between C$40,326 and C$85,569 per year.
- In Australia, the basic salaries for these professionals are estimated to be from AU$44,987 per year and AU$87,261 per year. To this, you can add a yearly bonus that can be estimated to reach at about AU$10,138 per year, this leading then to a total biomedical engineer salary in Australia estimated to be from AU$46,012 and up to AU$90,383 per year.
- In UK, a Biomedical Engineer can expect to a salary that is estimated to range from £21,177 and £27,627 per year. Those specialists who gained experience in this field and who are already in a position of team manager are expected to earn an income estimated from £30,462 and £40,158 per year. There are plenty of occasions for advancement in this field and individual hired as consultants or department heads will earn a higher biomedical engineer salary in the United Kingdom. The benefits in this career among other can be seen also in bonuses that have a value comprised between £25.05 and £1,176 leading to a total earning that is from £21,236 per year and £59,706 per year.
Conclusion on Biomedical Engineer Salary
The chances for advancement in this field are plenty, and the toy paying industries are giving a great salary to those who work in these positions.
People are always in a need for professionals that think out of the box and want to make a contrast in the quality and effectiveness of the patient care. With the number of demanding growing due to a more acute need by the healthcare system and the biological one, a biomedical engineer is one of the professionals that plays an important role in this field.
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- First Published Date: 29 May, 2015
- Last Updated Date: 17 September, 2016