ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 2, 2002 --- The number of biomedical engineering jobs will increase by 31.4 percent through 2010---double the rate for all other jobs combined, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Overall job growth will average 15.2 percent through the end of the decade, according to projections released last month by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall engineering jobs will grow by 9.4 percent.

The 10-year projections of employment by industry and occupation, labor force, and economic growth are released every two years. The 2001 report, which adopted a new Standard Occupational Classification system, was the first to single out biomedical engineering as a discrete job category.

The report attributed the rapid rise in biomedical engineering jobs in part to an aging U.S. population and the increasing demand for improved medical devices and systems. Specific growth areas cited in the report included computer-assisted surgery, cellular and tissue engineering, rehabilitation, and orthopedic engineering.

"Along with the demand for more sophisticated medical equipment and procedures is an increased concern for cost efficiency and effectiveness that also will increase the need for biomedical engineers," the report said.

Health services, engineering management, and other service jobs are expected to account for almost half of all nonfarm wage and salary jobs through 2010.

The government counted about 7,000 biomedical engineering positions in 2000, one-third of which were in manufacturing, primarily medical instrumentation and supplies industries.

Median annual income for biomedical engineers was $57,480 in 2000. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,860 and the highest 10 percent made more than $90,000.

The report also cited a 2001 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showing average starting salary offers of $47,850 for bachelor's-degree candidates in biomedical engineering and $62,600 for master's-degree candidates.

The government's long-range employment projections are widely used by career guidance counselors and by institutions that are planning education and training programs.

Contact:
Frank Blanchard(703) 528-2430