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Biological Sciences · Biochemistry Rank #76 of 136

Biochemistryat University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Graduates earn $23,648/yr in their first year — about 38.0% below the national Biochemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $736K; scenarios range from $648K to $757K depending on AI disruption.

Albuquerque, NM Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
39 AT RISK
40
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$23,648
1-year post-graduation
ROI
19.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$736K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
50% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of New Mexico

While the data reflects outcomes that might appear lower than the national average for this field, it's crucial to understand the context. This often reflects the regional labor market in New Mexico, which, while having strong public sector research institutions like Sandia and Los Alamos National Labs, may not offer the same density of high-paying private biotech and pharmaceutical industry jobs found in major coastal hubs. Many graduates from programs like UNM's leverage their robust scientific foundation for further education, often pursuing Ph.D.s or medical degrees, where initial post-bachelor's salaries are lower but long-term earning potential significantly increases. Therefore, if you're considering this path, actively seek out internships or research opportunities at regional labs or plan for advanced degrees to truly unlock the full career potential this major offers.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$648K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple19.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$736K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple22.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$757K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple23.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of New Mexico's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Biochemistry graduates typically work

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.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Biochemists and biophysicists
+5.8% 10-yr growth · 2,900 openings/yr
$103,650/yr
Moderate
3
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
4
Biological scientists, all other
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$93,330/yr
Moderate
5
Microbiologists
+4.1% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$87,330/yr
Moderate
6
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 5,400 openings/yr
$83,460/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Biochemistry

How University of New Mexico stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
California State University-San Marcos
CA · Public
54
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
17.6x
ROI
Top score
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
61
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
15.4x
ROI
MCPHS University
MA · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
3.6x
ROI
University of Colorado Boulder
CO · Public
53
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
9.5x
ROI
Also at University of New Mexico

Other top programs at University of New Mexico

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of New Mexico, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Biochemistry at University of New Mexico

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biochemistry at University of New Mexico-Main Campus?

A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biochemistry. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Biochemistry careers?

With 45% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $647,557 in decade earnings vs $757,208 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Biochemistry from University of New Mexico-Main Campus?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.