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Medical Device Manufacturing
Medtronic, Stryker, Boston Scientific
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers design and adapt technology for medical use, from software and sensors to equipment used in hospitals and labs. The work is distinct because it sits between engineering, biology, and healthcare rules, so a good idea is not enough unless it is safe, testable, and compliant.
Also known as Biomedical EngineerBioengineerClinical EngineerMedical Device EngineerBiomedical Systems Engineer
Median Salary
$106,950
Mean $115,020
U.S. Workforce
~22K
1.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.2%
22.2K to 23.3K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~22K workers, with a median annual pay of $106,950 and roughly 1.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 22.2 K in 2024 to 23.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering or a related engineering field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Entry-Level Biomedical Engineering Associate and can progress toward Engineering Manager. High-value skills usually include FDA Medical Device Regulations, ISO 13485 & 21 CFR Part 820, Technical Writing, SOPs & Validation Reports, and MATLAB, Python & Statistical Analysis Software, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Design or modify medical devices, software, and hardware so they solve a real clinical problem.
- Work with doctors, nurses, and hospital staff to choose equipment, set it up, and make sure it is used correctly.
- Write technical documents such as safety sheets, operating procedures, and validation reports for manufacturing and quality teams.
- Check designs and paperwork against FDA and other regulatory requirements before a product can move forward.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Design or modify medical devices, software, and hardware so they solve a real clinical problem.
02 Work with doctors, nurses, and hospital staff to choose equipment, set it up, and make sure it is used correctly.
03 Write technical documents such as safety sheets, operating procedures, and validation reports for manufacturing and quality teams.
04 Check designs and paperwork against FDA and other regulatory requirements before a product can move forward.
05 Coordinate with suppliers and production teams on parts, materials, and product specifications.
06 Test ideas with researchers and then train clinicians and other staff on how to use the equipment safely.
Industries That Hire
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Hospitals and Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine
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Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing
Amgen, Genentech, Thermo Fisher Scientific
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Imaging and Diagnostic Equipment
GE HealthCare, Philips, Siemens Healthineers
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Consulting, Testing and Certification
UL Solutions, Intertek, Battelle
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong for a specialized engineering role, with a mean annual wage of $115,020 and a median of $106,950.
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The work affects real patient care, so your designs and decisions can shape how doctors diagnose, monitor, and treat people.
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The job combines engineering, biology, and problem-solving, which keeps the work varied instead of purely desk-based or purely hands-on.
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The field is expected to grow from 22.2 thousand jobs in 2024 to 23.3 thousand by 2034, with about 1.3 thousand openings a year.
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Skills can transfer across medical devices, hospitals, biotech, and testing firms, which gives you more than one industry to aim for.
Challenges
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The field is small, with about 21,860 jobs now, so there are far fewer openings than in larger engineering occupations.
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Most workers need at least a bachelor's degree, and many have a master's degree or higher, so the entry bar is high.
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Growth is only 5.2% over 10 years, which is solid but not fast enough to create a lot of new jobs on its own.
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Regulatory and validation work can slow projects down; even a good design cannot move ahead until the paperwork and testing are in place.
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Because the field is niche, people often hit a ceiling unless they move into management, quality, or regulatory specialties, and hiring can be sensitive to hospital budgets and device-company spending.
Career Progression
Entry-Level Biomedical Engineering Associate
0-2 years
$65K-$82K
Supports testing, documentation, and design reviews while learning the regulations and workflows that govern medical devices.
Biomedical Engineer
2-5 years
$93K-$125K
Owns smaller design or validation tasks and works directly with clinicians, suppliers, and quality teams.
Senior Biomedical Engineer THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$126K-$155K
Leads device projects, resolves technical problems, and makes sure designs can be manufactured and approved.
Principal Biomedical Engineer
8-12 years
$156K-$189K
Sets technical direction for major programs and handles the hardest safety, performance, and compliance issues.
Engineering Manager
12+ years
$190K-$230K
Manages teams, budgets, and project priorities, with less hands-on design work and more oversight.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering or a related engineering field
The most common entry point, held by 43.48% of workers in this role.
Master's degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, or a related specialty
A common next step, held by 26.09% of workers in this role.
Doctoral degree in biomedical engineering or a closely related field
An advanced research path used by 13.04% of workers in this role.
Bachelor's degree plus professional certification in clinical or biomedical engineering
A practical alternative for people who want to move into device support, validation, or hospital engineering work.
Key Skills
Technical
FDA Medical Device Regulations, ISO 13485 & 21 CFR Part 820 75%
Technical Writing, SOPs & Validation Reports 75%
MATLAB, Python & Statistical Analysis Software 74%
CAD, SolidWorks & Prototyping 73%
LabVIEW, Sensors & Instrumentation Testing 72%
FMEA, Verification & Validation 71%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingCritical Thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+5.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 22.2K to 23.3 K over the next decade, representing 5.2% growth. Around 1.3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.