The Bureau of Labor Statistics has all sorts of stats-maybe too many-that may be of some assistance; below is the link to the biomedical engineer info:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172031.htm#nat
Some people are more risk-averse when it comes to career prospects. I admire Choatieson’s service, but he and hisc classmates do not have to worry about unemployment after graduation (and yes, I recognize he will have far more important responsibilities as a young officer). On many college campuses, many students are deeply concerned about their career prospects and there is palpable anxiety among the students over jobs. One of my kid’s is very risk averse, and ideally, would like her post-grad job wrapped up immediately (yes, she knows that isn’t going to happen). The other, with an admittedly stronger quantitative and computer skill set, is very flexible and risk-taking, and confident that she will find a way to support herself given her skill set. I don’t think either child is wrong in their approach but it reflects their personality and temperament. And by the way, Choatiemom, when your son is done, there are many opportunities in finance especially for service academy graduates, as that skill set is valued on Wall Street.
Not everyone wants to or should major in computer science or engineering. We can’t have everyone majoring in the same thing! And I know plenty of people who majored in one thing or another and are working in an unrelated field. If money is an issue be up clear with your kids about what you can and cannot afford. If your kid needs to take an in the meantime job at graduation, that’s ok. I only know one engineer and he came from a pretty well off family. Don’t know anyone who majored in CS…
Our children’s eventual choices and prospects are irrelevant to the point I was making. I was making the point that, as the parents, we did not raise our son to consider any financial ROI on his education as we don’t consider job training the purpose of college, and we didn’t see any relationship between his earning potential and what we were willing to spend for his education. If we did, and he had embraced that idea, too, he would have selected one of his (much better) civilian college choices. In his case, due to the branch he was selected for, he will be 31 before the Army releases him. Most likely, he will make significantly less during that nine-year service commitment than his peers at the colleges he bypassed. Perhaps he will make it up later, perhaps not, but financial ROI is not part of his decision process, and he has zero interest in finance/Wall Street. He will certainly be able to support himself and a family if he so chooses, but that is irrelevant to our education philosophy and how we raised him.
Choatiemom, I am glad he (and you) have confidence he can support himself (and perhaps a family). The point is the many current college students, and some graduates, do not have such confidence, and there is some evidence to substantiate their concern.
No argument there.
Actually, a USMA cadet’s financial ROI is infinite, since s/he and his/her family pay no money and take no loans up front like at other colleges, and the service commitment is that of a job that the cadet wants to do anyway, and with a much lower risk of unemployment at graduation than any other college graduate is likely to face.
To some people, financial ROI may not necessarily mean prioritizing the highest pay possible. It may instead mean minimizing the downside risk of being unable to find a job, or not being able to find a job that pays enough for a frugal independent subsistence at least.
Tell that to cadets. Their branch/service commitment is based on their OML (order of merit/rank in class). More than a few don’t get to do what they want to do. This year, USMA branched 81% of the class of 2019 into combat arms. Not all 81% wanted to go that route. 
Again, what my child’s or anyone else’s employment prospects are is irrelevant to the fact that ROI was never a consideration in our education decisions. However, if you are a person who considers guaranteed employment a priority, the military may be a great option.
@roycroftmom of course there are plenty of grads who don’t have job confidence. People have to do what works for them, their finances, and their individual situation.
@Al73 On Biomedical Engineering, the usual warning for popular premed majors. The job market is flooded with premed degree holders that couldn’t get into med school. Your daughter should plan from the outset to go on to a prestigious grad school somewhere.
One thing to keep in mind is that interests do change…many students change their majors
I studied BME years ago. About half of my class went to Med school and the other half went to grad school. It was seen as necessary for a good job.
Later in my career I did work with some without PhDs but their degrees were more typically mechanical engineering. I recommend choosing MechE or ChemE based on her interests and then doing the BME in grad school as a specialty. More flexible job opportunities.