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Biochemical Engineering

Types of Degrees Biochemical Engineering Majors Are Earning

Those studying Biochemical Engineering may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	89
Master’s Degree	34
Doctor’s Degree	3

What Biochemical Engineering Majors Need to Know

Programs in Biochemical Engineering develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Biochemical Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Biochemical Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Biochemical Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Biochemical Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Biochemical Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Biochemical Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
PTC Creo Parametric	Computer aided design CAD software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Biochemical Engineering graduates include:

• Engineer
• Mining Teacher
• Electronics Engineering Professor
• Drawing Instructor
• College Faculty Member
• Technical Professor
• Heat Engineering Teacher
• Ship Construction Teacher
• Metallurgy Teacher
• Electronics Teacher
• Surveying Teacher
• Manufacturing Engineering Professor
• Circuits and Robotics Instructor
• Engineering Instructor
• Aeronautical Engineering Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Biochemical Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	33.3%
Doctoral degree	28.8%
Master’s degree	11.1%
Post-doctoral training	7.6%
Post-master’s certificate	7.3%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.7%
Postsecondary certificate	2.0%
Some college courses	1.5%
First professional degree	1.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.6%
Less than a high school diploma	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Biochemical Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 54% women and 46% men among Biochemical Engineering graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	68	54.0%
Men	58	46.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Biochemical Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	73	57.9%
Asian	19	15.1%
Hispanic or Latino	13	10.3%
Two or More Races	11	8.7%
Race Unknown	2	1.6%
International Students	8	6.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Biochemical Engineering Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Biochemical Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$69,544
4 years	$83,236
5 years	$99,194

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $99,194 — roughly 43% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Biochemical Engineering Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Biochemical Engineering graduates earn a median of $83,236 four years after completion — roughly 119% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Engineering	14
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	14.02
Agricultural Engineering	14.03
Architectural Engineering	14.04
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	14.45
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	14.05
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering	14.06
Chemical Engineering	14.07
Civil Engineering	14.08
Computer Engineering	14.09
Construction Engineering	14.33
Electrical and Computer Engineering	14.47

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.