Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Major

Biomathematics and bioinformatics is a major that typically falls into the Biological & Biomedical Sciences category.

There are 2 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in biomathematics, 86 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 158 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 106 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Biomathematics Degree?

This is a less frequently chosen major. Only 400 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biomathematics and bioinformatics in 2017. According to recent stats this major attracts about equal numbers of men and women. Roughly 48% of the graduates are women, and 52% are men.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of biomathematics majors is as follows:

• Asian: 25.3%
• Black or African American: 4.8%
• Hispanic or Latino: 9.2%
• White: 45.5%
• Non-Resident Alien: 9%
• Other Races: 6.2%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in biomathematics. About 9% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending biomathematics majors to the U.S. are China, India and South Korea.

What Will You Learn as a Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to biomathematics to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Biomathematics Majors

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

Skills for Biomathematics Majors

Biomathematics majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

Abilities for Biomathematics Majors

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

What Can You Do With a Biomathematics Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with biomathematics:

Careers Related to Biomathematics & Bioinformatics

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Mathematical Science Occupations	9.1%	$0
Health Specialties Professors	25.9%	$97,370
Biostatisticians	33.9%	$87,780
Computer and Information Research Scientists	19%	$118,370
Clinical Data Managers	33.9%	$87,780
Database Architects	9.3%	$90,270
Software Developers, Applications	30.7%	$103,620
Data Warehousing Specialists	9.3%	$90,270
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Clinical Research Coordinators	9.9%	$123,860

Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Major Salary

Average salaries range from $93,000 to $122,000 for careers related to biomathematics. 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, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

The area of the country you choose to work in will also affect your career and salary prospects. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Major Jobs

Some careers associated with biomathematics 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 education do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to biomathematics have obtained the following education levels.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Biomathematics & Bioinformatics

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	1%
Post-Secondary Certificate	1.3%
Some College Courses	0.6%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	2.3%
Bachelor's Degree	38.9%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	1.8%
Master's Degree	23.2%
Post-Master's Certificate	0.3%
First Professional Degree	0.1%
Doctoral Degree	17.2%
Post-Doctoral Training	13.5%

Online Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Programs

There are 86 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in biomathematics and bioinformatics, with 0 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Online learners benefit from being able to watch lectures remotely and complete coursework on their schedule, but they also take longer to graduate than average and are more likely to dropout.

Is a Biomathematics & Bioinformatics Major Worth It?

The median salary for a biomathematics grad is $97,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 150% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,168,800 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• General Biology
• Biochemistry & Biophysics
• Botany/Plant Biology
• Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences
• Microbiology Science & Immunology
• Zoology
• Genetics
• Physiology & Pathology Sciences
• Pharmacology & Toxicology
• Biomathematics & Bioinformatics
• Biotechnology
• Ecology & Systematics Biology
• Molecular Medicine
• Neurobiology & Neurosciences
• Other Biological Sciences

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
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