ARLINGTON, Va., March 19, 2004 --- The number of biomedical engineering jobs will climb almost twice as fast as the overall average for a 26.1 percent gain by 2012, according to the government's new long-range forecast.

Overall job growth is projected to be 14.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The bureau's growth projections have declined slightly since the last national survey two years ago. At that time, the government foresaw a 31.4 percent increase in biomedical engineering jobs over 10 years and a 15.2 percent overall growth.

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The new report released last month counted 7,600 biomedical engineering jobs in the United States as of 2002 and projected that number to exceed 10,000 by 2012.

Thirty-eight percent of all biomedical engineers counted in the government survey worked in manufacturing industries, principally in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing and in industries that make medical instruments and supplies. Other big employers are hospitals and government agencies.

"The aging of the population and the focus on health issues will increase the demand for better medical devices and equipment designed by biomedical engineers," the report said. Areas of rapid development cited by the report include computer-assisted surgery and molecular, cellular and tissue engineering as well as 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 boost demand for biomedical engineers," the report said. "However, because of the growing interest in this field, the number of degrees granted in biomedical engineering has increased greatly, leading to the potential for competition for jobs."

As it stands, biomedical engineers earned a median annual income of $60,410 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $58,320 and $88,830. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,520, the report said.

The BLS cited a 2003 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showing that bachelor's degree candidates in biomedical engineering received employment offers averaging $39,126 a year, while master's degree candidates considered offers of about $61,000.

The government's 10-year employment forecast is watched closely by career guidance counselors and institutions that plan education and training programs. The projections are also used in studies of long-range employment trends.