Becker was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Max and Rose Becker. His father was a doctor and his mother was a nurse. Becker showed an early aptitude for science and mathematics and attended the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in New York City. After graduating from high school, Becker enrolled at Harvard University, where he studied engineering physics. However, he soon switched to pre-med and graduated from medical school in 1946.
Becker served his surgical internship at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. After completing his internship, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Japan for two years. During his time in the Air Force, Becker began to develop an interest in the effects of electromagnetic fields on the body.
After leaving the Air Force, Becker returned to Harvard University to complete his surgical residency. He then moved to Syracuse, New York, where he established a private practice and began to conduct research on electromagnetism and wound healing.
Becker's research showed that electromagnetic fields could accelerate the healing of wounds and reduce the pain associated with them. He also found that electromagnetic fields could help to improve the function of injured nerves and muscles. Becker's work helped to lay the foundation for the field of bioelectromagnetics, which is the study of the effects of electromagnetic fields on living organisms.
In addition to his research, Becker was also an accomplished writer and lecturer. He published several books and articles on electromagnetism and the body's ability to heal itself. He also lectured extensively on these topics around the world.
Becker received numerous awards for his work, including the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research in 1982 and the Gold Medal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1991. He was also a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine.
Becker died of cancer on May 13, 2008, in Delmar, New York. He was 85 years old.