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Senior embedded engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a senior embedded engineer. Senior embedded engineers usually study electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science. 71% of senior embedded engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 244 real senior embedded engineer resumes to see exactly what senior embedded engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for senior embedded engineers are the University of Houston and the University of Houston.

There are also many online senior embedded engineer courses to help get the education required to be a senior embedded engineer.

What education do you need to become a senior embedded engineer?

What degree do you need to be a senior embedded engineer?

The most common degree for senior embedded engineers is bachelor's degree, with 71% of senior embedded engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 26% and master's degree degree at 1%.
  • Bachelor's, 71%
  • Master's, 26%
  • Associate, 1%
  • Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a senior embedded engineer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a senior embedded engineer. 47% of senior embedded engineers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a senior embedded engineer include computer engineering and computer science.

Most common colleges for senior embedded engineers

Senior embedded engineers often get their degrees at University of Houston, Rochester Institute of Technology, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Here are the most common colleges for senior embedded engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Senior embedded engineer common collegePercentages
University of Houston7.14%
Rochester Institute of Technology7.14%
University of California, Santa Barbara7.14%
San Jose State University7.14%
California State University - San Bernardino7.14%

Best majors for senior embedded engineers

Best colleges for senior embedded engineers

The best colleges for senior embedded engineers are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

A senior embedded engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for senior embedded engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become senior embedded engineers.

1. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

3. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

4. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

5. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,785

Enrollment

7,711

6. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Mankato, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$8,184

Enrollment

11,675

7. Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$40,749

Enrollment

2,582

8. Texas A&M University

College Station, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$11,870

Enrollment

53,194

9. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$3,926

Enrollment

9,835

10. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$19,080

Enrollment

19,127

20 best online courses for senior embedded engineers

Advertising disclosure

1. Advanced Embedded Linux Development

coursera

This courses in this specialization can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5305 - 5307, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.\n\nThis specialization provides students with the fundamentals of embedded operating systems including a working understanding of how to configure and deploy a Linux based Embedded System. Students will gain expertise in software tools and development methods which can be used to create applications and build custom Linux based Embedded...

2. Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments

coursera

Welcome to the Introduction to Embedded Systems Software and Development Environments. This course is focused on giving you real world coding experience and hands on project work with ARM based Microcontrollers. You will learn how to implement software configuration management and develop embedded software applications. Course assignments include creating a build system using the GNU Toolchain GCC, using Git version control, and developing software in Linux on a Virtual Machine. The course...

3. Mastering STM32CubeMX 5 and CubeIDE - Embedded Systems

udemy
4.3
(293)

Code Drivers and Firmware : PWM, USB,TIMER, SPI, ADC, UART, DMA,Free RTOS,Embedded-C, Assembly etc...

4. Embedded Linux Step by Step Using Beaglebone Black

udemy
4.6
(2,901)

Learn ARM Linux systems, Embedded Linux building blocks ,Busybox, Beaglebone interfacing Projects and much more...

5. Unit Testing & Other Embedded Software Catalysts

udemy
4
(545)

Dr. Surly's School for Mad Scientists: Introduction to Test Driven Development for Embedded & System Software in C...

6. Embedded Systems Object-Oriented Programming in C

udemy
4.3
(326)

End-to-End Firmware and Driver Development: UART,GPIO,TIMER, etc. From Datasheet to Embedded C and C++...

7. Embedded Systems with 8051 Micro Controller using Embedded C

udemy
4.3
(290)

Deep Dive into embedded systems with in-depth understanding of 8051 micro controller with embedded C programming...

8. Basics of Embedded C Programming for Beginners

udemy
4.2
(347)

Learn basics of Embedded C programming...

9. Embedded System Design using UML State Machines

udemy
4.7
(371)

Learn to implement event-driven embedded applications using simple and hierarchical UML state machine approach...

10. USB Behind the Scenes: Hands-on HID Firmware Development

udemy
4.9
(475)

The #1 video course that explains programming bare-metal firmware for USB human interface devices (HID) step by step...

11. Introduction to Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)

udemy
4
(620)

Learn how to realize dynamic embedded software design using RTOS in an industrial/practical way...

12. 8051 Microcontroller - Embedded C and Assembly Language

udemy
4.1
(572)

Hands-on Approach 25+ code examples KEIL IDE Proteus Flash Magic 2 Projects Sensor and display interfacings...

13. Embedded Systems Bootcamp: RTOS, IoT, AI, Vision and FPGA

udemy
4.7
(276)

All microcontrollers in one: Embedded Systems, Io T, RTOS, Deep Learning, Linux and Raspberry PI, ESP32, Arduino...

14. Embedded Systems Bare-Metal Programming Ground Up™ (STM32)

udemy
4.6
(2,165)

No Libraries used, Professional CMSIS Standard, ARM Cortex, ADC,UART,TIMERS, DMA,SPI,I2C,RTC,GPIO etc...

15. Embedded Systems Programming on ARM Cortex-M3/M4 Processor

udemy
4.6
(5,092)

With hands on coding using C Programming and assembly on ARM Cortex M Processor based Microcontroller...

16. How to Become a Senior Developer - Beyond coding skills

udemy
4.5
(817)

The path to becoming a senior developer is clear, with these easily applicable lessons on mastering your craft...

17. Mastering Microcontroller and Embedded Driver Development

udemy
4.6
(9,308)

(MCU1) Learn bare metal driver development using Embedded C: Writing drivers for STM32 GPIO,I2C,SPI,USART from scratch...

18. Complete Software Engineering Course with Python

udemy
4.3
(314)

Learn Python 3 with Software Engineering Concepts Learn Python GUI, Object Oriented Programming, Data Visualization.....

19. Embedded Linux using Yocto

udemy
4.2
(1,692)

Learn Yocto Project...

20. Foundation of Embedded Systems with ARM Cortex and STM32

udemy
4.5
(935)

A 14 day proven course to a higher paying career in embedded systems, with deep understanding of ARM Cortex and STM32...

Top 10 most affordable universities for senior embedded engineers

The most affordable schools for senior embedded engineers are California State University - Long Beach, suny farmingdale, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.

If the best universities for senior embedded engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for senior embedded engineers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

6. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

8. West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV • Private

In-state tuition

$7,464

Cost of attendance

17,166

9. National University College - Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$6,675

Cost of attendance

12,941

10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for senior embedded engineers

The hardest universities for senior embedded engineers to get into are Northeastern University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for senior embedded engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for senior embedded engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

51%

SAT average

1,395

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

8. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

9. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

10. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for senior embedded engineers

The easiest schools for senior embedded engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, capitol technology university, and pennsylvania state university - altoona.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a senior embedded engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for senior embedded engineers.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

3. Pennsylvania State University - Altoona

Altoona, PA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,094

4. Pennsylvania State University - Berks

Reading, PA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,107

5. South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,149

6. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,068

7. Alabama A & M University

Normal, AL • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

957

8. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

9. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

10. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

Average senior embedded engineer salary by education level

According to our data, senior embedded engineers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $137,709 annually. Senior embedded engineers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $128,966.
Senior embedded engineer education levelSenior embedded engineer salary
Master's Degree$128,966
Bachelor's Degree$119,658
Doctorate Degree$137,709

Senior embedded engineer education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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