How to become an Industrial Engineer

Plans, investigates and reviews the logistics and utilisation of personnel, facilities, equipment and materials, operational processes and practices to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of operations in commercial, industrial and production environments.

Main tasks

• Plans, implements and coordinates the sequence of operations in an industrial facility to maximise efficiency of time and resources
• Estimates production costs and risks associated with product design, process changes and fabrication
• Analyses data and product specifications to determine the quality of finished products, identify quality issues, and implement strategies for improving products and processes
• Designs systems and processes to minimise production issues and optimise resource use
• Develops and implements quality control procedures to ensure product and process consistency
• Identifies and analyses potential hazards in industrial facilities, and develops and implements safety policies and strategies to mitigate them

Ways in

• University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Graduate Diploma of Engineering (MEM80122); Advanced Diploma of Engineering (MEM60122); Advanced Diploma of Engineering - Planning (MEM60322); Advanced Diploma of Industrial Electronics and Control Engineering (UEE60620); Diploma of Industrial Electronics and Control Engineering (UEE50920)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $135,928 a year
• About 40,100 people work in this job group now, and about 49,300 are projected by 2035. (+23.1%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Related jobs

• Mechanical Engineer
• Production or Plant Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Extractive Metallurgist
• Materials Engineer
• Civil Engineer

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Industrial Engineer?

Ways in include: Engineering degrees; Graduate Diploma of Engineering; Advanced Diploma of Engineering.

How much does an Industrial Engineer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $135,928 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Industrial Engineer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 23% by 2035, from about 40,100 to about 49,300 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Industrial Engineer?

Usually. 78% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Industrial Engineer?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04