Biomedical Engineer Salary

Biomedical engineers are those engineers who combine the knowledge of medical science and engineering for designing devices and procedures involved in health care. To know more about the biomedical engineer salary and job description, read on...
Biomedical engineering is one of the expanding fields that implements medical as well as engineering laws for benefiting human health. All the devices and equipment used in hospitals and health care centers are nothing but inventions of biomedical engineering. A biomedical engineering invention, can be a simple sphygmomanometer that measures blood pressure or a pace maker that regulates the heartbeat of a person. These help to solve the medical problems with the help of devices developed by them. Before knowing about biomedical engineer salary, let us take a look at the job description of a biomedical engineer.

Biomedical Engineer - Job Description
As mentioned earlier, a biomedical engineer applies laws and principles of biology, medical and engineering to develop devices that can be used for improving health of a person or even for saving one's life. They design and construct devices that can solve various medical and health problems. They work for producing equipment that can comfort a patient suffering from particular disease. Many of the diagnostic machines used for processes like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), CT scans, X-rays, sonography, ultrasound, etc. are all inventions of biomedical engineering. They also work on development of artificial devices that perform functions of body organs like artificial limbs, pacemaker, kidney machines, etc.

Some chief duties of a biomedical engineer can be listed as follows:
  • They mediate closely with doctors, therapists and customers and find solutions to their medical problems.
  • With the help of computer software they design, develop and construct new devices and equipment.
  • These engineers research thoroughly and chalk out the effect of a medical device on the human body.
  • Thus we can say that a biomedical engineer designs and develops devices and equipment that can assist health care practitioners and can improve quality of life.
To become a biomedical engineer a student has to obtain a Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering. Now, let us see what could be the average salary of a biomedical engineer.

What Decides a Biomedical Engineer's Salary
Biomedical engineers work like Zen masters. They are proficient in everything they do, nevertheless, when it comes to concentrating and devoting attention to one, they are there to accomplish the same. Biomedical engineers may work in government agencies, academic schools and hospitals. They may work towards computing softwares for medical pursuits. These pursuits may be enhancing the X-ray machines or studying the pacemaker and other devices. The co-relation between the body functioning and the working of biological systems is also studied by biomedical engineers. They have the magical muscle to create artificial limbs, heart valves and oncological implants while some have centered their concentration camps over subjects of stimulating tissue growth to relieve organs on the verge of decease. Biomedical engineers are also actively involved in graduating rehabilitation models on which principles of ergonomics is based. Walking aids for the physically challenged or the aged are also worked upon by them. Engineering prosthetic limbs and comprehending how the fabrication would function, as though working in normal conditions, is also looked into by biomedical engineers.

Besides, the aforementioned endeavors, biomedical engineers also participate in solving biomedical issues that require clarification and sound understanding. It is through fields such as technical writing, teaching, being a physician or a physical therapist that a biomedical engineer, partnered with could make complex concepts comprehensive. It is due to their multifaceted scope of thought and comprehension, that decides their complete pay package.

Biomedical Engineer Salary
With an increased awareness of health issues and need for sophisticated medical equipment, biomedical engineers are in great demand these days. According to a survey, almost 3000 career opportunities in biomedical engineering will be created by the year 2016. A survey made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, states that annual earning of a biomedical engineer in the year 2007 was $79,610. The salary of a biomedical engineer who worked in manufacturing and development sectors earned almost $80,000 to $90,000 p.a. Biomedical engineers who obtain Master's degree earn almost $10,000 more than those who acquire Bachelor's degree. For an entry-level biomedical engineer, the salary can be $30,500 per year. Refer to the tables given below to know biomedical engineer salary range, according to their experience and type of employer.

The table given below specifies the salary of a biomedical engineer with respect to the type of employer.

Type of Employer Average Annual Salary (in $)
Hospital 49,217 to 65,657
Government 64,453 to 95,347
Company 51,446 to 70,933
Non-Profit Organization 39,839 to 76,500

The table given below specifies the salary of a biomedical engineer with respect to the experience he/she has gained in the field of biomedical engineering.

Years of Experience Average Annual Salary (in $)
Less than 1 year 40,337 to 60,249
1 to 4 years 49,278 to 66,664
5 to 9 years 58,459 to 83,180
10 to 19 years 61,775 to 97,979
20 years and more 60,101 to 94,566

The aforementioned figures of biomedical engineer salary are approximate and may differ depending on certain factors. I hope the information provided in this article will prove useful to you.
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Last Updated: 12/13/2011
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