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Nanotechnology Major

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Nanotechnology

68 Master's Degrees Annually
23 Doctor's Degrees Annually
#252 in Popularity (Master's)
$99,410 Median Salary

Types of Degrees Nanotechnology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many nanotechnology graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 68
Doctor’s Degree 23
Graduate Certificate 7

What Nanotechnology Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to nanotech were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Nanotech Majors

Nanotech majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

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  • Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Skills for Nanotech Majors

When studying nanotech, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

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  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Nanotech Majors

As a nanotech major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

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  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

What Can You Do With a Nanotechnology Major?

People with a nanotech degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title Job Growth Rate Median Salary
Microsystems Engineers 6.4% $96,980
Nanosystems Engineers 6.4% $96,980

Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Nanotechnology?

68 Master's Degrees Annually
24% Percent Women
25% Percent Racial-Ethnic Minorities*
This major tends to be male dominated. About 76% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of nanotech majors is as follows:

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Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 7
Black or African American 3
Hispanic or Latino 6
White 15
International Students 36
Other Races/Ethnicities 1

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Nanotech. About 52.9% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

  • China
  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • Iran
  • Saudi Arabia

How Much Do Nanotechnology Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Nanotech majors often go into careers with median salaries of $99,410. This median refers to all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Median Salary for a Nanotechnology Major  99,410
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Median Salary for a High School Graduate  ( 30000 to 57900 )
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250K
Median Salary for a Bachelor's Degree Holder  ( 45600 to 99000 )
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Median Salary for an Advanced Degree Holder  ( 55600 to 125400 )
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250K

Some degrees associated with nanotech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to nanotech have obtained the following education levels.

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Education Level Percentage of Workers
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 0.1%
Bachelor’s Degree 17.3%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. 7.7%
Master’s Degree 35.5%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. 4.8%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. 2.4%
Doctoral Degree 25.7%
Post-Doctoral Training 4.8%

Online Nanotechnology Programs

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 39 schools offered some type of nanotechnology program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level Colleges Offering Programs Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) 0 0
Certificate (1-2 years) 4 0
Certificate (2-4 Years) 1 0
Associate’s Degree 12 1
Bachelor’s Degree 4 1
Post-Baccalaureate 0 0
Master’s Degree 10 0
Post-Master’s 3 0
Doctor’s Degree (Research) 4 0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) 0 0
Doctor’s Degree (Other) 0 0

Is a Degree in Nanotechnology Worth It?

The median salary for a nanotech grad is $99,410 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 149% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,190,200 after 20 years!

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You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to nanotech.

Major Number of Grads
Engineering-Related Fields 4,838
Quality Control Technology 736
Industrial Production Technology 440
Engineering Technology (Other) 288
Construction Engineering Technology 264
General Engineering Technology 255
Computer Engineering Technology 179
Drafting & Design Engineering Technology 145
Mechanical Engineering Technology 104
Energy Systems Technologies 95
Environmental Control Technology 89
Electromechanical Engineering Technology 43
Architectural Engineering Technology 39
Electronics Engineering Technology 39
Engineering-Related Technologies 15
Nuclear Engineering Technology 0

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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