Biomedical Engineers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Biomedical Engineers apply knowledge and methodology of physics, engineering, mathematics, computing, physical chemistry and materials science to problems in biology and the treatment and prevention of human disease.
Specialisations: Bioengineer, Clinical Engineer, Medical Engineer.
A bachelor degree in engineering majoring in biomedical engineering is needed to work as a Biomedical Engineer. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Tasks
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Makes surgical equipment and tools for medical practitioners.
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Installs and tests medical equipment.
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Examines, maintains and repairs equipment.
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Carries out quality assurance checks on equipment.
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Conducts electrical safety checks on equipment.
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Trains other staff in the use of equipment and gives technical advice and assistance.
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May give lectures on electrical safety and the application of clinical equipment.
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May work with other staff to design and develop implants for use during operations such as artificial joints or titanium plates to replace sections of bone in head injuries.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Sedentary
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Light
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Other Engineering Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 90% of people employed as Biomedical Engineers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 24 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Biomedical Engineers work in industries like:
- Health care and social assistance
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Wholesale trade
- Manufacturing.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Biomedical Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 35.9 | 31.6 |
VIC | 28.6 | 25.6 |
QLD | 13.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.8 | 7.0 |
WA | 9.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.2 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 86% of Biomedical Engineers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Biomedical Engineers is 38 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 15% of the workforce. This is 33 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Biomedical Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 5.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 32.0 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 28.9 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 17.2 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 8.1 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.6 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 38 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A bachelor degree in engineering majoring in biomedical engineering is needed to work as a Biomedical Engineer. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration may be required in some states and territories. In addition, Engineers Australia has a non-compulsory National Engineering Register.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Biomedical Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 26.6 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 42.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 17.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 10.1 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 3.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Other Engineering Professionals who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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77%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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75%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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70%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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70%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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70%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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66%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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66%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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66%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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64%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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63%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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63%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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63%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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59%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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59%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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59%
Technology designDesigning and improving equipment and technology.
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57%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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57%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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50%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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48%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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87%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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86%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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82%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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77%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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77%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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74%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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72%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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70%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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64%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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59%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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57%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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50%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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47%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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40%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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39%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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36%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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36%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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33%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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32%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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23%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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75%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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75%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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75%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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73%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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73%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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73%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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71%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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66%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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64%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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63%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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63%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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63%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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61%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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59%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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54%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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52%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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48%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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46%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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87%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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86%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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83%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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81%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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81%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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80%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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74%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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74%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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70%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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70%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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70%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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68%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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68%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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68%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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68%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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68%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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67%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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64%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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64%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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61%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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100%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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52%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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38%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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33%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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86%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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76%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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76%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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71%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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71%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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71%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Demands
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99%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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93%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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89%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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84%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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81%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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79%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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77%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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76%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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75%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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74%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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73%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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66%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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65%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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65%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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64%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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60%
Public speakingTalk to a group of people.
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60%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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58%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 17-2031.00 - Biomedical Engineers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.