Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Architecture and Engineering Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 17-2031.00
Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.133
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.30
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only30 rated tasks · 29 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (96.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 30.2) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.17-2031.00 | 0.0100100.0 | 0.0100100.0 |
Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software.17-2031.00 | 0.00000.0 | 0.00000.0 |
Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.17-2031.00 | 0.00000.0 | —0 |
Recommend process formulas, instrumentation, or equipment specifications, based on results of bench or pilot experimentation.17-2031.00 | 0.00000.0 | —0 |
Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment. | —0 | 0.00000.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 25 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | ||
Advise hospital administrators on the planning, acquisition, and use of medical equipment. | —0 | —0 |
Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs. | —0 | —0 |
Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes. | —0 | —0 |
Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals. | —0 | —0 |
Conduct training or in-services to educate clinicians and other personnel on proper use of equipment. | —0 | —0 |
Collaborate with manufacturing or quality assurance staff to prepare product specification or safety sheets, standard operating procedures, user manuals, or qualification and validation reports. | —0 | —0 |
Communicate with bioregulatory authorities regarding licensing or compliance responsibilities. | —0 | —0 |
Communicate with suppliers regarding the design or specifications of bioproduction equipment, instrumentation, or materials. | —0 | —0 |
Confer with research and biomanufacturing personnel to ensure the compatibility of design and production. | —0 | —0 |
Consult with chemists or biologists to develop or evaluate novel technologies. | —0 | —0 |
Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives. | —0 | —0 |
Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences. | —0 | —0 |
Develop methodologies for transferring procedures or biological processes from laboratories to commercial-scale manufacturing production. | —0 | —0 |
Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results. | —0 | —0 |
Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating or using budgets, or overseeing contract obligations or deadlines. | —0 | —0 |
Prepare project plans for equipment or facility improvements, including time lines, budgetary estimates, or capital spending requests. | —0 | —0 |
Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications. | —0 | —0 |
Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances. | —0 | —0 |
Analyze new medical procedures to forecast likely outcomes. | —0 | —0 |
Advise manufacturing staff regarding problems with fermentation, filtration, or other bioproduction processes. | —0 | —0 |
Design and deliver technology, such as prosthetic devices, to assist people with disabilities. | —0 | —0 |
Design or direct bench or pilot production experiments to determine the scale of production methods that optimize product yield and minimize production costs. | —0 | —0 |
Develop bioremediation processes to reduce pollution, protect the environment, or treat waste products. | —0 | —0 |
Lead studies to examine or recommend changes in process sequences or operation protocols. | —0 | —0 |
Review existing manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for yield improvement or reduced process variation. | —0 | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses.O*NET Task ID 8979 | 1.0 |
Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment.O*NET Task ID 18604 | 1.0 |
Collaborate with manufacturing or quality assurance staff to prepare product specification or safety sheets, standard operating procedures, user manuals, or qualification and validation reports.O*NET Task ID 21840 | 1.0 |
Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences.O*NET Task ID 21847 | 1.0 |
Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software.O*NET Task ID 21851 | 1.0 |
Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results.O*NET Task ID 21853 | 1.0 |
Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications.O*NET Task ID 21856 | 1.0 |
Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment.O*NET Task ID 8968 | 0.5 |
Advise hospital administrators on the planning, acquisition, and use of medical equipment.O*NET Task ID 8970 | 0.5 |
Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs.O*NET Task ID 8972 | 0.5 |
Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes.O*NET Task ID 8973 | 0.5 |
Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals.O*NET Task ID 8975 | 0.5 |
Analyze new medical procedures to forecast likely outcomes.O*NET Task ID 8980 | 0.5 |
Advise manufacturing staff regarding problems with fermentation, filtration, or other bioproduction processes.O*NET Task ID 21839 | 0.5 |
Communicate with bioregulatory authorities regarding licensing or compliance responsibilities.O*NET Task ID 21841 | 0.5 |
Communicate with suppliers regarding the design or specifications of bioproduction equipment, instrumentation, or materials.O*NET Task ID 21842 | 0.5 |
Confer with research and biomanufacturing personnel to ensure the compatibility of design and production.O*NET Task ID 21843 | 0.5 |
Consult with chemists or biologists to develop or evaluate novel technologies.O*NET Task ID 21844 | 0.5 |
Design and deliver technology, such as prosthetic devices, to assist people with disabilities.O*NET Task ID 21845 | 0.5 |
Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives.O*NET Task ID 21846 | 0.5 |
Design or direct bench or pilot production experiments to determine the scale of production methods that optimize product yield and minimize production costs.O*NET Task ID 21848 | 0.5 |
Develop bioremediation processes to reduce pollution, protect the environment, or treat waste products.O*NET Task ID 21849 | 0.5 |
Develop methodologies for transferring procedures or biological processes from laboratories to commercial-scale manufacturing production.O*NET Task ID 21850 | 0.5 |
Lead studies to examine or recommend changes in process sequences or operation protocols.O*NET Task ID 21852 | 0.5 |
Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating or using budgets, or overseeing contract obligations or deadlines.O*NET Task ID 21854 | 0.5 |
Prepare project plans for equipment or facility improvements, including time lines, budgetary estimates, or capital spending requests.O*NET Task ID 21855 | 0.5 |
Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances.O*NET Task ID 21857 | 0.5 |
Recommend process formulas, instrumentation, or equipment specifications, based on results of bench or pilot experimentation.O*NET Task ID 21858 | 0.5 |
Review existing manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for yield improvement or reduced process variation.O*NET Task ID 21859 | 0.5 |
Conduct training or in-services to educate clinicians and other personnel on proper use of equipment.O*NET Task ID 18603 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (30)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment. | Core |
| Advise hospital administrators on the planning, acquisition, and use of medical equipment. | Core |
| Research new materials to be used for products, such as implanted artificial organs. | Core |
| Develop models or computer simulations of human biobehavioral systems to obtain data for measuring or controlling life processes. | Core |
| Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals. | Core |
| Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses. | Core |
| Conduct training or in-services to educate clinicians and other personnel on proper use of equipment. | Core |
| Write documents describing protocols, policies, standards for use, maintenance, and repair of medical equipment. | Core |
| Collaborate with manufacturing or quality assurance staff to prepare product specification or safety sheets, standard operating procedures, user manuals, or qualification and validation reports. | Core |
| Communicate with bioregulatory authorities regarding licensing or compliance responsibilities. | Core |
| Communicate with suppliers regarding the design or specifications of bioproduction equipment, instrumentation, or materials. | Core |
| Confer with research and biomanufacturing personnel to ensure the compatibility of design and production. | Core |
| Consult with chemists or biologists to develop or evaluate novel technologies. | Core |
| Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives. | Core |
| Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences. | Core |
| Develop methodologies for transferring procedures or biological processes from laboratories to commercial-scale manufacturing production. | Core |
| Develop statistical models or simulations, using statistical or modeling software. | Core |
| Maintain databases of experiment characteristics or results. | Core |
| Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating or using budgets, or overseeing contract obligations or deadlines. | Core |
| Prepare project plans for equipment or facility improvements, including time lines, budgetary estimates, or capital spending requests. | Core |
| Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications. | Core |
| Read current scientific or trade literature to stay abreast of scientific, industrial, or technological advances. | Core |
| Recommend process formulas, instrumentation, or equipment specifications, based on results of bench or pilot experimentation. | Core |
| Analyze new medical procedures to forecast likely outcomes. | Supplemental |
| Advise manufacturing staff regarding problems with fermentation, filtration, or other bioproduction processes. | Supplemental |
| Design and deliver technology, such as prosthetic devices, to assist people with disabilities. | Supplemental |
| Design or direct bench or pilot production experiments to determine the scale of production methods that optimize product yield and minimize production costs. | Supplemental |
| Develop bioremediation processes to reduce pollution, protect the environment, or treat waste products. | Supplemental |
| Lead studies to examine or recommend changes in process sequences or operation protocols. | Supplemental |
| Review existing manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for yield improvement or reduced process variation. | Supplemental |
0.10/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 24K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 26K
- Change (2025–35)
- +7.6%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $109,370
- Typical education needed for entry
- Bachelor's degree
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23433 | 전자 의료기기 개발 기술자 및 연구원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 24652 | 보조공학사 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 2149Engineering Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
This unit group covers engineering professionals not classified elsewhere in Minor Group 214: Engineering Professionals (excluding Electrotechnology) or in Minor Group 215: Electrotechnology Engineers. For instance, the group includes those who conduct research and advise on or develop engineering procedures and solutions concerning workplace safety, biomedical engineering, optics, materials, nuclear power generation and explosives.
Tasks
- In such cases tasks would include -
- (a) applying knowledge of engineering to the design, development and evaluation of biological and health systems and products such as artificial organs, prostheses and instrumentation;
- (b) designing devices used in various medical procedures and imaging systems such as magnetic resonance imaging, and devices for automating insulin injections or controlling body functions;
- (c) designing components of optical instruments such as lenses, microscopes, telescopes, lasers, optical disc systems and other equipment that utilize the properties of light;
- (d) designing, testing, and coordinating the development of explosive ordnance material to meet military procurement specifications;
- (e) designing and overseeing construction and operation of nuclear reactors and power plants and nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems;
- (f) designing and developing nuclear equipment such as reactor cores, radiation shielding and associated instrumentation and control mechanisms;
- (g) assessing damage and providing calculations for marine salvage operations;
- (h) studying and advising on engineering aspects of particular manufacturing processes, such as those related to glass, ceramics, textiles, leather products, wood and printing;
- (i) identifying potential hazards and introducing safety procedures and devices.
Example occupations
Biomedical engineer · Explosive ordnance engineer · Marine salvage engineer · Materials engineer · Nuclear power generation engineer · Optical engineer · Quantity surveyor · Safety engineer
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- bioengineerESCO 2149.4Same scope
Bioengineers combine state of the art findings in the field of biology with engineering logics in order to develop solutions aimed at improving the well-being of society. They can develop improvement systems for natural resource conservation, agriculture, food production, genetic modification, and economic use.
- biomedical engineerESCO 2149.4.1This occupation is broader
Biomedical engineers combine knowledge of engineering principles and biological findings for the development of medical treatments, medicaments, and general healthcare purposes. They can develop solutions ranging from the improvement of the components in conventional medicaments up to implants developments, and tissue treatment.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H1206 | Ingénieur / Ingénieure R&D en industrie | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| I1327 | Technicien / Technicienne de maintenance en matériel biomédical | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 2439 | Ingenieros no clasificados bajo otros epígrafes | This occupation is narrower |
| 2469 | Ingenieros técnicos no clasificados bajo otros epígrafes | Related, not a match |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 82504 | Berufe in der Medizintechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 82514 | Berufe in der Orthopädie- und Rehatechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 41214 | Berufe im biologisch-technischen Laboratorium - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 81224 | Medizinisch-technische Berufe in der Funktionsdiagnostik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 82534 | Berufe in der Hörgeräteakustik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 051 | 自然科学系研究者 | Related, not a match |
| 079 | その他の製造技術者（開発） | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources