Cost Estimators
Median wage · national
$78,740
Range: $61K – $102K
Employed
224K
Openings/yr
17K
Typically: bachelor's degree
STEM
Industrial Engineer
With a national median of $102,440 and +11.0% projected job growth through 2034, Industrial Engineer offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Industrial Engineer
Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
- Median Wage
- $102,440
- Employed Nationally
- 366K
- Openings / Year
- 25,200
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Continuous Improvement Engineer
District Plant Engineer
Documentation Engineer
Efficiency Analyst
Efficiency Engineer
How Much Do Industrial Engineers Make?
Industrial Engineer earn $102,440 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $83,600 and $129,250. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$102,440
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$84K–$129K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$83,600
Entry-level
$102,440
Median
$129,250
Experienced
What Do Industrial Engineers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Industrial Engineer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
- Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
- Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
- Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Speaking
Complex Problem Solving
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Industrial Engineers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Industrial Engineers?
The BLS projects +11.0% employment change for Industrial Engineer through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 25,200 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +11.0%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Faster than average.
25,200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
366K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Industrial Engineer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $102,440 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 31,850 | $99,680 | -2.7% |
| 2 | Texas | 29,620 | $103,430 | +1.0% |
| 3 | California | 25,830 | $123,070 | +20.1% |
| 4 | Ohio | 22,310 | $99,490 | -2.9% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 18,000 | $101,600 | -0.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Industrial Engineer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 4 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial Engineering | 8,722 | $98,442 | 155 |
| 2 | Environmental Tech | 7,918 | $89,619 | 227 |
| 3 | Systems Engineering | 4,148 | $105,185 | 119 |
| 4 | Manufacturing Engineering | 942 | $88,451 | 85 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Industrial Engineers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 4 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Industrial Engineer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Industrial Engineer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Industrial Engineer Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Industrial Engineer a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $102,440 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +11.0% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $129,250 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 366K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $102,440 median while building the experience employers require.
Industrial Engineer Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Industrial Engineer professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Industrial Engineer is $102,440, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $83,600 and $129,250. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Industrial Engineer a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. A $102,440 median with +11.0% projected growth through 2034 is a combination most career fields can't match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $83,600, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How long does it take to become a Industrial Engineer?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Industrial Engineering are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $102,440 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Industrial Engineer?
The BLS projects +11.0% employment change for Industrial Engineer through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 25,200 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 366K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Industrial Engineer professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Industrial Engineer roles: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
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- High paying careers
- Associate degree
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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