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Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Types of Degrees Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	2
Bachelor’s Degree	159
Master’s Degree	81
Doctor’s Degree	55

What Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Chemical & Biomolecular 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

The skill set developed in a Chemical & Biomolecular 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 Chemical & Biomolecular 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, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Getting 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	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite 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	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
C++	Object or component oriented development 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 Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering graduates include:

• Engineer
• Robotics Instructor
• Metallurgy Teacher
• Assistant Professor
• Engineering Instructor
• Ceramic Engineering Professor
• Adjunct Engineering Instructor
• Refrigeration Engineering Teacher
• Motion and Time Study Teacher
• Drafting Teacher
• Theoretical Mechanics Teacher
• Circuits and Robotics Instructor
• Aeronautical Engineering Professor
• Marine Engineering Professor
• Machine Design Teacher

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	33.4%
Doctoral degree	28.6%
Master’s degree	11.3%
Post-doctoral training	7.6%
Post-master’s certificate	7.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.4%
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 Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 40.7% women and 59.3% men among Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	121	40.7%
Men	176	59.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	111	37.4%
Asian	52	17.5%
Hispanic or Latino	21	7.1%
Black or African American	11	3.7%
Two or More Races	12	4.0%
Race Unknown	15	5.1%
International Students	75	25.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Chemical & Biomolecular 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	$74,187
4 years	$87,755
5 years	$99,039

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $99,039 — roughly 33% above the 1-year mark.

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

Online Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Programs

Distance learning is tracked by IPEDS for Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering graduates earn a median of $87,755 four years after completion — roughly 131% 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
Chemical Engineering	14.07
Chemical Engineering, Other	14.0799
Chemical Engineering	14.0701
Biochemical Engineering	14.4301
Biological/Biosystems Engineering	14.4501
Engineering Chemistry	14.4401
Paper Science and Engineering	14.4001
Architectural Engineering	14.0401
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering	14.0501
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering	14.0601
Construction Engineering	14.3301
Electrical and Computer Engineering	14.4701

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.