Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Also called: Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Technician (Biomedical Tech), Process Engineer, Research EngineerApply 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 25 of its 30 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 7.6% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 0.2% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 40% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $85,720 | $76,610 to $101,250 | 30 |
| Arizona | $141,230 | $124,330 to $163,560 | 610 |
| Arkansas | $67,850 | $48,880 to $84,610 | 30 |
| California | $128,310 | $105,950 to $153,670 | 2,750 |
| Colorado | $110,650 | $90,950 to $148,600 | not published |
| Connecticut | $103,500 | $95,220 to $134,600 | 300 |
| District of Columbia | $100,920 | $82,760 to $101,960 | 80 |
| Florida | $101,730 | $77,420 to $131,400 | 900 |
| Georgia | $96,920 | $82,720 to $117,540 | not published |
| Idaho | $133,750 | $107,350 to $137,130 | not published |
| Illinois | $89,520 | $49,040 to $112,400 | 280 |
| Indiana | $108,030 | $86,570 to $140,210 | 620 |
| Iowa | $81,710 | $76,330 to $108,680 | 90 |
| Kentucky | $95,360 | $88,630 to $110,280 | 80 |
| Louisiana | $84,320 | $72,100 to $109,620 | 30 |
| Maryland | $105,090 | $82,140 to $130,490 | 550 |
| Massachusetts | $127,570 | $100,240 to $150,220 | 4,740 |
| Michigan | $100,940 | $81,330 to $120,520 | 330 |
| Minnesota | $127,730 | $102,360 to $160,770 | 1,230 |
| Mississippi | $96,710 | $96,710 to $96,720 | not published |
| Missouri | $89,480 | $66,160 to $123,820 | 160 |
| Montana | not published | not published | 40 |
| Nebraska | $83,890 | $72,770 to $104,570 | 80 |
| Nevada | $87,850 | $81,580 to $117,790 | 70 |
| New Hampshire | $94,890 | $80,850 to $134,990 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $114,680 | $93,160 to $156,870 | 680 |
| New York | $104,010 | $91,680 to $135,640 | 840 |
| North Carolina | $94,790 | $80,320 to $120,710 | 920 |
| Ohio | $111,550 | $99,620 to $132,350 | 700 |
| Oklahoma | $109,340 | $80,610 to $175,350 | 70 |
| Oregon | $122,510 | $109,440 to $132,750 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $122,560 | $97,640 to $137,870 | 950 |
| Puerto Rico | $80,210 | $62,150 to $80,210 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $99,130 | $80,400 to $105,400 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $106,470 | $84,470 to $137,770 | 170 |
| Texas | $92,600 | $75,040 to $123,450 | 2,050 |
| Utah | $90,870 | $78,530 to $110,310 | 280 |
| Virginia | $106,140 | $83,580 to $141,740 | 330 |
| Washington | not published | not published | 880 |
| Wisconsin | $110,430 | $84,090 to $149,040 | 180 |
Nationally: $109,370. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 25 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences. | Not published |
| AI + software | Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software. | under 0.01% |
See all 30 tasks
| AI + software | Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances. | Not published |
| Not much | Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating or using budgets, or overseeing contract obligations or deadlines. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop methodologies for transferring procedures or biological processes from laboratories to commercial-scale manufacturing production. | Not published |
| AI alone | Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Prepare project plans for equipment or facility improvements, including time lines, budgetary estimates, or capital spending requests. | Not published |
| Not much | Consult with chemists or biologists to develop or evaluate novel technologies. | Not published |
| AI alone | Communicate with bioregulatory authorities regarding licensing or compliance responsibilities. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct training or in-services to educate clinicians and other personnel on proper use of equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Recommend process formulas, instrumentation, or equipment specifications, based on results of bench or pilot experimentation. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Collaborate with manufacturing or quality assurance staff to prepare product specification or safety sheets, standard operating procedures, user manuals, or qualification and validation reports. | Not published |
| AI + software | Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs. | Not published |
| Not much | Confer with research and biomanufacturing personnel to ensure the compatibility of design and production. | Not published |
| AI + software | Analyze new medical procedures to forecast likely outcomes. | Not published |
| AI alone | Communicate with suppliers regarding the design or specifications of bioproduction equipment, instrumentation, or materials. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review existing manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for yield improvement or reduced process variation. | Not published |
| AI alone | Advise hospital administrators on the planning, acquisition, and use of medical equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design and deliver technology, such as prosthetic devices, to assist people with disabilities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Lead studies to examine or recommend changes in process sequences or operation protocols. | Not published |
| AI alone | Design or direct bench or pilot production experiments to determine the scale of production methods that optimize product yield and minimize production costs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop bioremediation processes to reduce pollution, protect the environment, or treat waste products. | Not published |
| AI alone | Advise manufacturing staff regarding problems with fermentation, filtration, or other bioproduction processes. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 4 of the 30 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 30 tasks fall under 23 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #15 Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies
- #20 Present research or technical information
- and 3 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research technology designs or applications | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Develop models of systems, processes, or products | |||
| Design materials or devices | |||
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies |
Show all 23 activities
| Present research or technical information | |||
| Advise others on products or services | |||
| Plan work activities | |||
| Develop operational or technical procedures or standards | |||
| Design computer or information systems or applications | |||
| Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits | |||
| Document technical designs, procedures, or activities | |||
| Determine resource needs of projects or operations | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Develop research plans or methodologies | |||
| Analyze data to improve operations | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Develop sustainable organizational or business policies or practices | |||
| Supervise personnel activities |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An app or website30%
- A document or report16%
- A script or snippet12%
- Data or a spreadsheet8%
- Code fixes or debugging8%
How they worked with Claude
68% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for bioengineers and biomedical engineers specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 2,596 moves out
- 1 Operations Research Analysts Very high +11.9% 10%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 3 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 6%
- 4 Computer Occupations, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 5 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 2,540 moves in
- 1 Operations Research Analysts Very high +11.9% 11%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 3 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 7%
- 4 Engineers, All Other Very high +3.7% 5%
- 5 Computer Network Support Specialists Very high +1.2% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 4% associate's
- 43% bachelor's
- 26% master's
- 13% research doctorate
- 13% post-doctoral training
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 23 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 6% high school
- 9% some college
- 8% associate's
- 49% bachelor's
- 20% master's
- 7% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 261 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
3 programs: Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Biological/Biosystems Engineering.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-2031.00