Biomedical Engineeringat University of California-Davis
Graduates earn $68,419/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Biomedical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $941K; scenarios range from $790K to $985K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Davis
UC Davis's strong reputation within the UC system, coupled with its proximity to California's massive biotech and medical device industries, underpins the robust outcomes you're seeing. This program benefits from deep interdisciplinary connections, leveraging the university's strengths in both engineering and life sciences, which is crucial for a field like biomedical engineering. Graduates often find themselves in demand for R&D, product development, or clinical trial roles at companies across the Bay Area and Southern California, or within healthcare systems in the Sacramento region. While some tasks within the field face evolving automation, the program's emphasis on complex problem-solving and research prepares you for the strategic, high-level work that remains uniquely human. To maximize your prospects, prioritize internships and research opportunities to build a specialized skillset and professional network early on.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Davis's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Biomedical Engineering
How UC Davis stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Davis
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Davis, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Biomedical Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Biomedical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis
What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Biomedical Engineering at University of California-Davis?
At 69/100, University of California-Davis's Biomedical Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Biomedical Engineering at University of California-Davis?
The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.