Biomedical Engineering
Types of Degrees Biomedical Engineering Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many biomedical engineering graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 2,909 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 1,127 |
| Graduate Certificate | 21 |
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What Biomedical Engineering Majors Need to Know
In an O*NET survey, bio engineering majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.
Knowledge Areas for Bio Engineering Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in bio engineering should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:
- 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.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Skills for Bio Engineering Majors
When studying bio engineering, 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:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Abilities for Bio Engineering Majors
As you progress with your bio engineering degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:
- 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.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
What Can You Do With a Biomedical Engineering Major?
People with a bio engineering degree often go into the following careers:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 5.5% | $140,760 |
| Biomedical Engineers | 7.0% | $88,550 |
| Engineering Professors | 14.7% | $101,720 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of bio engineering majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 445 |
| Black or African American | 82 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 212 |
| White | 1,137 |
| International Students | 872 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 161 |
Geographic Diversity
Bio Engineering appeals to people across the globe. About 30.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Iran
How Much Do Biomedical Engineering Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The median starting salary of students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a master’s degree in bio engineering was $67,200 per year. These stats come from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $65,600 (25th percentile) and $72,225 (75th percentile).
It’s important to note that just because the people reporting these salaries have a degree in bio engineering, it does not mean that they are working in a job related to their degree.
Salaries According to BLS
Bio Engineering majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $95,090 to $148,970 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
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.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Biomedical Engineering
Some careers associated with bio engineering require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. 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.
Find out what the typical degree level is for bio engineering careers below.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 45.7% |
| 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. | 5.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 26.5% |
| 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. | 3.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 13.0% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 5.4% |
Online Biomedical Engineering Programs
In the 2018-2019 academic year, 232 schools offered some type of biomedical engineering 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) | 4 | 0 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | 0 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 1 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 7 | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 13 | 1 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 4 | 0 |
| Master’s Degree | 166 | 6 |
| Post-Master’s | 4 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 127 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Biomedical Engineering Worth It?
The median salary for a bio engineering grad is $113,680 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 185% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,475,600 after 20 years!
Majors Related to Biomedical Engineering
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to bio engineering.
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By UC Davis College of Engineering under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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