SOC 17-2112.00Bright outlook

    Industrial Engineers

    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 pay
    $102,440
    Growth
    +12.4%
    Much faster than average
    Openings a year
    23,100
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $74,370
    Median
    $102,440
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $159,860
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    365,740 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Industrial engineers design and evaluate integrated systems to manage production processes, quality control, and logistics. The career offers a median annual pay of $102,440, with strong employment growth projected over the coming decade.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What industrial engineers do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    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.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Industrial engineers focus on making production processes more efficient. They spend their days gathering information, analyzing data, and solving complex problems to streamline human work, inventory control, and material flow. Using computers and specialized software, they design and test systems to coordinate production and analyze costs. This work requires strong skills in mathematics, critical thinking, active listening, and reading comprehension to understand technical challenges and communicate solutions clearly to supervisors and peers.

    To succeed in this field, professionals need deep knowledge of engineering, technology, production processes, and mechanical design. They must also understand administration and management principles to coordinate large-scale systems. The job appeals to people with conventional interests who enjoy structured, detail-oriented tasks. Key work styles for these engineers include dependability, attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and innovation. They must be cautious yet adaptable when monitoring processes and updating their technical knowledge to keep systems running safely and efficiently.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree. Because this work requires considerable preparation, most professionals also need several years of related work experience before they are fully qualified. Students preparing for this field commonly major in industrial engineering, systems engineering, manufacturing engineering, or other engineering-related fields.

    While not always mandatory, various professional credentials can help candidates demonstrate their expertise. Available certifications include the Associate Standards Professional Certification, Certified in Engineering Graphics, Certified Plant Engineer, Certified Technical Professional, and the Certified Technician-Supply Chain Automation. Graduates often start by taking the Fundamentals of Engineering - Industrial and Systems exam. Additionally, some states list licensing requirements for professionals performing this type of work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for industrial engineers was $102,440. This means half of the workers in this role earned more than this amount, and half earned less. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $74,370, while the highest 10% earned more than $159,860.

    With 365,740 people employed in this field, the occupation is projected to grow by 12.4% from 2025 to 2035. This rate of growth is much faster than the average for all occupations. Due to this growth and the need to replace departing workers, the field is projected to have 23,100 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    66 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    67 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    10 / 100
    Social (S)
    6 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    38 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    73 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CIR. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    85
    Working with Computers
    83
    Getting Information
    80
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    76
    Thinking Creatively
    76
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    74
    Processing Information
    73
    Analyzing Data or Information
    73
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    72
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    72
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Monitoring
    • Active Learning
    • Mathematics
    • Systems Analysis

    Knowledge

    • Engineering and Technology
    • Production and Processing
    • Mechanical
    • Design
    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Administration and Management
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Education and Training

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Information Ordering
    • Near Vision
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Innovation
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Adaptability
    • Perseverance
    • Initiative

    Also called

    Continuous Improvement Engineer · District Plant Engineer · Documentation Engineer · Efficiency Analyst · Efficiency Engineer · Efficiency Expert · Engineer · Engineering Inspector · Facilities Engineer · Factory Engineer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to industrial engineers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Industrial Engineers$102,440 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA logo
      University of Virginia-Main Campus UVA

      Charlottesville, VA · Systems Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $96,168
      4 yrs after
      $144,830
      Median debt
      $12,000
    2. 2Northwestern University-Illinois logo
      Northwestern University-Illinois

      Evanston, IL · Industrial Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $95,993
      4 yrs after
      $138,720
      Median debt
      $13,992
    3. 3Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech logo
      Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech

      Atlanta, GA · Industrial Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $128,003
      Median debt
      $20,071
    4. 4University of Florida logo
      University of Florida

      Gainesville, FL · Systems Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $87,546
      4 yrs after
      $122,299
      Median debt
      $19,472
    5. 5Lehigh University logo
      Lehigh University

      Bethlehem, PA · Industrial Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $84,946
      4 yrs after
      $121,498
      Median debt
      $19,000
    6. 6
      George Washington University

      Washington, DC · Systems Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $120,976
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7Washington University in St Louis WUSTL logo
      Washington University in St Louis WUSTL

      Saint Louis, MO · Systems Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $119,297
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus logo
      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus

      Ann Arbor, MI · Industrial Engineering · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $87,932
      4 yrs after
      $117,930
      Median debt
      $20,500

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What industrial engineers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Engineering/Industrial Management
    • Industrial Engineering
    • Manufacturing Engineering
    • Packaging Science
    • Systems Engineering

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    51 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about industrial engineers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for industrial engineers?

    People in this field are also called continuous improvement engineers, district plant engineers, efficiency analysts, and facilities engineers. Other common titles include documentation engineers, efficiency experts, and factory engineers.

    What college majors are most relevant to this career?

    Students typically major in industrial engineering, systems engineering, or manufacturing engineering. General engineering-related fields also provide a suitable educational background for this profession.

    How many job openings are expected in the coming years?

    There are 23,100 job openings projected each year in this field. This demand is driven by a projected employment growth rate of 12.4% between 2025 and 2035.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.