Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems and software, such as artificial joints, imaging equipment and diagnostic tools. Making sure a device is safe and works for patients stays with engineers and regulators.
The short answer: low exposure and strong growth. The ILO's 2025 index rates engineering professionals not elsewhere classified, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.30. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,200 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed biomedical engineers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified | Not exposed | 0.30 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for biomedical engineers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Bioengineers and biomedical engineers | Grow 8% | About 1,200 |
The BLS expects growth from rising demand for biomedical devices and procedures, such as joint replacements, and from growing public awareness of medical advances. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Analyzing signals and images in device development and testing.
- Modeling how implants and tissues behave before physical tests.
- Drafting test reports and regulatory documents for review.
What stays with biomedical engineers
- Design for patients: working with clinicians on what a device must do.
- Testing and safety: proving devices are safe and effective.
- Regulation: meeting medical device rules and documenting every step.
- Checking AI help: generated analyses and documents can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS notes that biomedical engineers design computer systems and software as well as devices, so software skills sit alongside engineering and biology. Clinical testing and regulatory review keep human accountability at the center. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace engineers?, will AI replace medical equipment repairers? and will AI replace orthotists and prosthetists?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for biomedical engineers at $109,370 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace biomedical engineers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 8 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,200 openings a year.
How exposed are biomedical engineers to AI?
The ILO rates engineering professionals not elsewhere classified, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.30.
What is driving demand?
The BLS points to demand for biomedical devices and procedures such as joint replacements.
Do biomedical engineers work on software?
Yes. The BLS says they design equipment, devices, computer systems and software.