How to Become a Biomedical Engineer?
Are you thinking of becoming a Biomedical Engineer or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Biomedical Engineer, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Biomedical Engineer job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Biomedical Engineer
If you're considering starting your Biomedical Engineer career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Biomedical Engineer and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Biomedical Engineer career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Biomedical Engineer career path, a Bachelor's Degree in engineering or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Biomedical Engineer internship may be required to earn your Bachelor's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.What type of degree should you pursue to become a Biomedical Engineer?
82% of people working as a Biomedical Engineer earned a Bachelor's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Biomedical Engineer?
- Microsoft Windows
- Hypervisor
- Citrix XenApp
- Application Deployment
- FTP
- Configuration
- Windows Server
- User Interface
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Biomedical Engineer, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Biomedical Engineer field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Biomedical Engineer specialty.3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Biomedical Engineer
Once you've acquired a Bachelor's Degree in engineering or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Biomedical Engineer. In general, you can become a Biomedical Engineer after completing your 4 year Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Biomedical Engineer role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in certified electronics technician.4
Advance in Your Biomedical Engineer Career
Following entry-level, there are several Biomedical Engineer career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Biomedical Engineer to progress to the senior biomedical engineer position. Each advanced Biomedical Engineer position requires approximately 8 years of experience at each level to advance in your Biomedical Engineer career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Biomedical Engineer career path.5
Continued Education for Your Biomedical Engineer Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Biomedical Engineer career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Graduate Degree in engineering can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Graduate Degree typically make $110,691 compared to $52,307 for those without that type of degree.Biomedical Engineer Career Path
Biomedical Engineer
8+Years of Experience
$84K - $156K /yrMost Likely Range
13% advanced to
Senior Biomedical Engineer
2 - 4Years of Experience
$107K - $193K /yrMost Likely Range
Principal Biomedical Engineer
8+Years of Experience
$108K - $197K /yrMost Likely Range
Total Pay Trajectory
Biomedical Engineer Career Path
Biomedical Engineer I
Biomedical Engineer
Senior Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Engineer Manager
Principal Biomedical Engineer
Head Biomedical Engineer
$60K
$92K
$124K
$156K
$220K
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Related Careers in the Research & Science Industry
Interested in other Research & Science careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Biomedical Engineer skills. Discover some of the most common Biomedical Engineer career transitions, along with skills overlap.