How To Become A Body Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a body engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A body engineer applies engineering principles to the human body to enhance performance and functionality. They design and develop devices that aid in physical rehabilitation, improve mobility, and prevent injuries. Body engineers collaborate with healthcare professionals to understand the biomechanics of the human body and create innovative solutions. They also conduct scientific research to advance the field and improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities or physical limitations.

ScoreBody EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.5

Avg. Salary $96,465

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 16.78%

Black or African American 3.07%

Hispanic or Latino 7.83%

Unknown 4.51%

White 67.71%

Gender

female 10.77%

male 89.23%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a body engineer?

Pros

Potential for high salary and job security
Opportunities for travel and international collaboration
Potential for career advancement and growth
Ability to develop skills in areas such as materials science, mechanics, and physics
Opportunity to work with and learn from experienced engineers

Cons

High level of competition for job opportunities
Long hours and frequent deadlines can lead to stress and burnout
Work can be solitary or involve long periods of focused concentration
Involvement in legal disputes or product recalls can be stressful
Can be emotionally challenging due to the potential impact of design decisions on user safety and well-being

Key steps to become a body engineer

Explore body engineer education requirements

Most common body engineer degrees

Bachelor's

66.1 %

Master's

22.0 %

Associate

10.2 %

Start to develop specific body engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
CATIA	18.10%
GD	17.42%
DFMEA	13.73%
NVH	11.93%
Vehicle Programs	5.51%

Complete relevant body engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New body engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a body engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real body engineer resumes.

Research body engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage the manufacturing of defense and aerospace electro-mechanical print circuit boards from prototype to production level.
Validate parts requirements through FEA simulations.
Mentore a team of four engineers on standard FEA of exterior subsystems of a vehicle.
Work on vehicle body NVH testing and analysis; work with program engineer to provide NVH design recommendations.

Apply for body engineer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a body engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams