Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Machines can already do 41% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 70%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 41% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 13% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2029, and 70% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 23,480 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $109,370 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 61% for contact with people.
- Also called: Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Technician (Biomedical Tech), Engineer, Process Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design or develop medical diagnostic or clinical instrumentation, equipment, or procedures, using the principles of engineering and biobehavioral sciences | 12% | 35% to 65% | |
| Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment | 10% | 25% to 55% | |
| Prepare technical reports, data summary documents, or research articles for scientific publication, regulatory submissions, or patent applications | 10% | 79% to 97% | |
| Adapt or design computer hardware or software for medical science uses | 6% | 35% to 65% | |
| Conduct research, along with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists, on the engineering aspects of the biological systems of humans and animals | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Manage teams of engineers by creating schedules, tracking inventory, creating or using budgets, or overseeing contract obligations or deadlines | 5% | 10% to 30% | |
| Design or conduct follow-up experimentation, based on generated data, to meet established process objectives | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Collaborate with manufacturing or quality assurance staff to prepare product specification or safety sheets, standard operating procedures, user manuals, or qualification and validation reports | 5% | 30% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills bioengineers and biomedical engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Nanosystems Engineers68% of tasks by 2035 · US median $122,930
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary67% of tasks by 2035 · US median $109,270
- Epidemiologists63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $87,220
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers69% of tasks by 2035 · US median $101,920
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2029. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of bioengineers and biomedical engineers?
Machines can do 41% of the tasks of bioengineers and biomedical engineers today and 70% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 17-2031.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/bioengineers-and-biomedical-engineers/