by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering involves the study of Chemical And Biomolecular Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems At The Interface Of Chemical Engineering And Biology, With An Emphasis At The Molecular Level, Such As Biopharmaceutical Processes, Protein Engineering, Metabolic Engineering, Gene Therapy, Biomaterials, Cell And Tissue Engineering, And Drug Delivery. Includes Instruction In Chemical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Momentum And Heat Transfer, Cellular And Molecular Biotechnology, Process Design, And Chemical Reactor Design. Continue reading for the essential details every chemical & biomolecular engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering chemical & biomolecular engineering programs.
Across the country, chemical & biomolecular engineering draws strong interest, with 297 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 16 schools to determine the best overall colleges for chemical & biomolecular engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of chemical & biomolecular engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations chemical & biomolecular engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a chemical & biomolecular engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a chemical & biomolecular engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several chemical & biomolecular engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 159 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 81 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 55 |
People currently working in careers related to chemical & biomolecular engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in chemical & biomolecular engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in chemical & biomolecular engineering prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to chemical & biomolecular engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to chemical & biomolecular engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Chemical Engineers | 215,233 | 0.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of chemical & biomolecular engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $74,187 |
| 4 years | $87,755 |
| 5 years | $99,039 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for chemical & biomolecular engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers chemical & biomolecular engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Chemical Engineers | $130,903 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $121,651 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
With 16 different chemical & biomolecular engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased chemical & biomolecular engineering school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in chemical & biomolecular engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | 10,624 |
| Chemical Engineering, Other | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
