CAREER INFORMATION ON BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES

Degrees in biomedical technologies typically cover engineering and human health topics. Find out about the curricula of these programs, and learn about career options, job growth and salary info for biomedical technologies graduates.

Essential Information

A degree in biomedical technology teaches students how to use sophisticated equipment to support human health. While enrolled in a biomedical technology program, students might complete coursework in engineering, disease processes, forensics, biology and computer science. They may also be required to demonstrate mastery of the principles of biomedical research and stay abreast of the latest technological developments in medicine.

Career Options

Graduates of a degree program in biomedical technologies may find work as biomedical equipment technicians, biomedical engineers or clinical laboratory technologists.

Biomedical Equipment Technicians

Biomedical technicians often provide assistance in health industries by keeping equipment up to date. They may fix medical equipment both in healthcare facilities and perform regular maintenance on highly technical biomedical machinery for use in hospitals and labs. As the population ages and more people seek medical treatments for ailments, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment for all medical equipment repairers, including biomedical equipment technicians, to grow 30% from 2012-2022 (www.bls.gov). The median annual salary for all medical equipment repairers, including biomedical equipment technicians, in 2013 was $44,180.

Biomedical Engineers

A degree in biomedical technologies will not be sufficient for a job in biomedical engineering immediately, but it does enable graduates to gain experience and prepare for a career in biomedical engineering. Assisting biomedical engineers may also be a possibility. Biomedical engineers develop procedures and devices that are used in the medical industry. Many biomedical engineers focus on designing medical prostheses or artificial organs, medical information systems or technologies such as surgical lasers. Demand for biomedical engineers is expected to grow by 27% from 2012-2022 (BLS). The median annual wage for biomedical engineers was $88,670 in 2013.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists

A bachelor's degree is typically required to become a clinical laboratory technologist. People in this profession analyze and examine body fluids, cells and tissues for evidence of toxins, cancer or other sickness. They are instrumental in diagnosing diseases which are then treated by medical doctors. Clinical laboratory technologists work in a variety of settings, from small laboratories or clinics to large hospitals. The BLS expects average job growth in this field to be 14% from 2012-2022. Median earnings of clinical laboratory technologists were approximately $58,530 in 2013.