Yes, industrial engineering is a good career, and it has one of the best growth outlooks in engineering. BLS data projects 12 percent job growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 23,100 openings a year, with a May 2025 median wage of $102,440. It is also one of the most flexible engineering degrees, leading to jobs in factories, hospitals, warehouses, consulting and tech.
Key takeaways
- Industrial engineers earned a median of $102,440 in May 2025, and the top 10 percent earned more than $159,860.
- Employment is projected to grow 12 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations.
- With about 365,100 jobs, it is a large field with openings in almost every region.
- Most roles need a bachelor’s degree; Lean and Six Sigma skills matter more than a PE license in most jobs.
- Michigan, California, Texas, Ohio and Minnesota employed the most industrial engineers in the latest detailed BLS state data (May 2023).
What does an industrial engineer do all day?
Industrial engineers design efficient systems that bring together people, machines, materials, information and energy to make a product or deliver a service. According to the BLS, they evaluate production and service systems, collect data through time studies and observation, analyze it for improvement opportunities, design better processes and present recommendations to management.
In practice, that means an industrial engineer might spend the morning on the plant floor timing a work cell, the afternoon building a capacity model in Excel or Python, and the end of the day walking a supervisor through a new layout. It is a people job as much as a numbers job, because every improvement depends on operators and managers adopting it.
The title varies a lot. O*NET lists job titles such as continuous improvement engineer, operations engineer, plant engineer, process engineer and quality engineer. BLS also groups manufacturing engineers, human factors engineers and validation engineers under industrial engineering.
| Setting | Typical projects |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing plant | Line balancing, layout changes, cycle time studies, scrap reduction, automation projects |
| Warehouse and distribution | Slotting, pick path design, labor standards, warehouse management system rollouts |
| Hospital or health system | Patient flow, wait time reduction, staffing models, supply room layouts |
| Consulting or engineering services | Operations assessments, cost reduction studies, facility planning |
| Tech and ecommerce | Fulfillment network design, capacity planning, process analytics |
How much do industrial engineers make?
The BLS reports a May 2025 median of $102,440 for industrial engineers. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $74,370 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $159,860. That is a little below the $108,620 median for all engineers, though many industrial engineers raise their earnings by moving into operations leadership.
| Industry | Median annual wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | $107,610 |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | $105,370 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | $102,390 |
| Machinery manufacturing | $99,070 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | $93,170 |
Location and industry can push pay higher. In the most recent detailed OEWS profile (May 2023), Louisiana had the highest average pay for industrial engineers at $126,520, followed by California at $120,960. Oil and gas extraction was among the top paying industries at an average of $156,480. For comparison with other fields, see our list of the highest paid engineering jobs.
Is industrial engineering a good career for job growth?
This is where industrial engineering stands out. BLS projects employment to grow from about 365,100 jobs in 2025 to 410,600 in 2035, a 12 percent increase. That is faster than the 8 percent projected for engineers overall and four times the average for all occupations.
BLS explains the demand simply: industrial engineers focus on reducing costs, and as more companies look to lower costs, they need people to optimize production, manage supply chains and logistics and bring in automation. That focus on savings can keep industrial engineers in demand even when budgets are tight.
For a broader view of the sector, our roundup of manufacturing statistics in the US gives more context on where the sector is heading.
Where do industrial engineers work?
By industry, BLS says the largest employers in 2025 were transportation equipment manufacturing (15 percent), professional, scientific and technical services (14 percent), computer and electronic product manufacturing (11 percent), machinery manufacturing (8 percent) and fabricated metal product manufacturing (6 percent).
By state, the latest detailed OEWS data (May 2023) shows Michigan with the most industrial engineers at 27,470, followed by California, Texas, Ohio and Minnesota. Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin had the highest concentration relative to their workforce. The Detroit, Minneapolis and Chicago metro areas each employed more than 12,000 industrial engineers.
Recruiter tip: Many industrial engineering jobs never use the words industrial engineer in the title. Search for continuous improvement engineer, operations engineer, manufacturing engineer and process improvement engineer too. Strong candidates often miss good roles simply because they only searched one title.
What education and certifications do you need?
Most industrial engineers have a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field such as mechanical, manufacturing or general engineering. The BLS says programs cover statistics, production systems planning and manufacturing systems design, and that internships and cooperative education help students gain experience. If you are weighing majors, compare this path with whether mechanical engineering is a good career.
Licensure is not required for entry level jobs. A PE license is available through the NCEES PE Industrial and Systems exam, which has 85 questions, is offered once a year and costs $400. The first time pass rate in the latest NCEES update was 69 percent. Few manufacturing employers require it, though.
Process improvement credentials often carry more weight in hiring. The ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt certification is aimed at professionals with at least three years of work experience, uses a 110 question exam and costs $483 for the exam. Lean training and a Green Belt are common asks in continuous improvement postings.
What skills and software do employers want?
O*NET lists tools such as Minitab, MATLAB, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, SAP, SQL, Python, R, Excel with VBA, Microsoft Visio, ProModel simulation software, warehouse management systems and MRP software. Most employers care less about any single tool than about whether you can turn data into a decision people act on.
| Skill | Tools employers mention |
|---|---|
| Statistics and quality | Minitab, Excel, statistical process control |
| Data analysis and automation | SQL, Python, R, VBA |
| Layout and design | AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Visio |
| Simulation and planning | ProModel, MRP and production scheduling software |
| Enterprise systems | SAP and warehouse management systems |
On the factory side, a working knowledge of automation and PLC basics helps you collaborate with controls teams. See whether controls engineering is a good career if that side appeals to you, and read our guide to the top skills manufacturing engineers need for the Industry 4.0 skills plants are asking for.
Is industrial engineering hard or easy?
Industrial engineering is often described as one of the more approachable engineering majors because it leans on statistics, optimization and operations research more than on heavy physics. It still requires calculus and a full engineering core, so it is not an easy degree.
The job’s challenge is more about people and pace. O*NET survey data shows 80 percent of industrial engineers report working more than 40 hours in a typical week, and 58 percent wear safety equipment every day, which reflects how much time many spend on production floors.
What are the pros and cons of industrial engineering?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 12 percent projected growth, much faster than average | Median pay slightly below engineers overall |
| About 23,100 openings a year across many industries | Many roles involve plant floor time, noise and safety gear |
| Flexible degree: manufacturing, health care, logistics, tech | Change management is hard; not every improvement gets adopted |
| Clear path into operations and plant management | Titles vary widely, which can make job searches confusing |
| Demand holds up when companies cut costs | Long weeks are common in production environments |
Who is industrial engineering a good fit for?
It suits people who like data, systems and people in equal measure. If you enjoy asking why a process works the way it does, can explain numbers to a shop floor supervisor and want a path into management, industrial engineering is a strong choice. It is a weaker fit if you want to spend your career doing deep technical design work at a desk.
How do you break into industrial engineering?
- Get an internship or cooperative education placement in a plant, warehouse or hospital operations team.
- Show results in numbers on your resume: cycle time cut, labor hours saved, scrap reduced or throughput gained.
- Build data skills beyond Excel. SQL and Python stand out on entry level applications.
- Pursue Lean training and, after a few years of experience, a Six Sigma Green Belt.
- Search broadly by title and be open to second and third shift roles early on. They are often easier to land and teach you the operation fast.
Recruiter tip: In interviews, bring one improvement story told start to finish: the problem, the data you collected, the change you made, how you got operators on board and the measured result. Hiring managers for continuous improvement roles want proof you can make change stick, not just analyze it.
Frequently asked questions
Is industrial engineering a real engineering degree?
Yes. It has its own NCEES PE exam, and BLS tracks it as its own engineering occupation. It focuses on systems and processes instead of a single type of hardware, which is why some people underestimate it.
Is industrial engineering worth it in 2026?
For most people who like process and data work, yes. The May 2025 median of $102,440 and 12 percent projected growth make it one of the best job markets in engineering. The flexibility of the degree is a big part of its value.
Can industrial engineers work outside manufacturing?
Yes. BLS notes industrial engineers work in health care, transportation and services as well as manufacturing, improving things like hospital wait times and logistics networks. Consulting, distribution and tech companies also hire them.
Do industrial engineers need a PE license?
Usually not. Licensure is not required for entry level positions, and most manufacturing and logistics employers do not ask for it. Lean and Six Sigma credentials tend to matter more in hiring.
What is the difference between industrial and manufacturing engineering?
There is a lot of overlap, and BLS counts manufacturing engineers as a type of industrial engineer. Manufacturing engineers usually focus on equipment, tooling and production processes, while industrial engineers take a wider view of workflow, labor, layout and cost.
Looking for your next industrial or continuous improvement role? Apollo Technical’s manufacturing engineering recruiters work with plants and manufacturers that hire industrial, manufacturing and process engineers. You can also browse our open engineering jobs and apply today.
