How to Become an Industrial Engineer
Make complex systems run better: optimize production, logistics, quality, and the human side of how work gets done. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $102,440 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$102,440/yr
Middle half
$83,600 to $129,250
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
25,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Process Optimization
- Lean Manufacturing
- Data Analysis
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt
- FE/PE
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
6/100
Work-life balance
58/100
Stress level
60/100
Related careers
- Computer Hardware Engineer$161,740 median
- Petroleum Engineer$144,910 median
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960 median
- Nuclear Engineer$133,970 median
- Chemical Engineer$125,040 median
- Electrical Engineer$120,630 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Industrial Engineer make?
The median pay for an Industrial Engineer is $102,440 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $83,600 and $129,250 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Industrial Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Systems Engineering.
Is Industrial Engineer a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 25,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Industrial Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are Process Optimization, Lean Manufacturing, Data Analysis, Critical Thinking, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).