(Photo by Thanin Viriyaki)
More About Mechanical Design
High-End Earners (Top 10%)
$128,661 annually
Median earners (Top 50%)
$101,234 annually
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
(Source: InterLink 2026 Data, Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers)
CTE Pathway
Biomedical Science Statewide Program of Study
Take courses like Principles of Health Science, Human Body Systems and Biotechnology II.
See pages 16-17 for the full breakdown of the courses you can take in Biomedical Science.
You MIGHT be great at this job if YOU…
Excel in engineering, robotics and technology courses in school
Enjoy competing in math decathlon and science fairs
Pay close attention to detail, and want to follow the rules given during an assignment or project
Are part of the robotics, math, biology or engineering club in school
Neaz Almir envisioned a medical career as a nurse or doctor to satisfy her interest in science and her passion for helping people. It wasn’t until she started high school that she began exploring avenues outside of the traditional medical route. After enrolling at the University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington), she began her first semester as a mechanical and aerospace engineering student. As her curiosity about the medical industry intensified, she consulted with her advisor and transferred to the biomedical engineering department.
“I had a strong affinity for mathematics and learned I could be an engineer and help others by improving their quality of life,” Neaz said.
It was through a production design internship at Alcon that Neaz solidified her commitment to bioengineering, a decision she attributes to the successful model she constructed during her time there. After her three-year program ends, she’s able to decide which team she would like to work for full-time.
“This structure gives me exposure to multiple areas – process engineering, product development and cross-functional collaboration,” Neaz said. “It also accelerates learning because each rotation pushes me to adapt quickly, build new technical skills and work with different stakeholders before I transition to the next team in a year.”
Neaz feels the best way to get ahead in your career is to start early. Experience in the field is ultimately the way you can learn and grow the most.
“Take advantage of opportunities like advanced classes, clubs, internships or CTE programs to gain exposure and show your independence and leadership abilities as you look for new opportunities,” Neaz said.
WHERE TO LEARN
Dallas College North Lake Campus
East Texas A&M University
Hill College
University of North Texas
Tarleton State University
Texas Woman's University
WHERE TO WORK
Hill College
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Six Flags Over Texas
