Drafters, Engineering Technicians, and Mapping Technicians

How to become an Industrial Engineering Technologist or Technician

Official title: Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Also called: Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Industrial Engineering Analyst, Industrial Engineering Technician (Industrial Engineering Tech), Industrial Technician (Industrial Tech), Manufacturing Coordinator, PLC Tech (Programmable Logic Controller Technician), QC Engineering Technician (Quality Control Engineering Technician), Quality Management Coordinator

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

Main tasks

Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance.
Oversee or inspect production processes.
Identify opportunities for improvements in quality, cost, or efficiency of automation equipment.
Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.
Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
Create or interpret engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, formulas, or blueprints for management or engineering staff.
Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
Recommend corrective or preventive actions to assure or improve product quality or reliability.

How to become one

Industrial engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation. Community colleges or technical institutes typically offer associate's degree programs, and vocational, technical schools offer certificate programs.

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Industrial Engineering Technician.
Apprenticeship: Industrial Manufacturing Technician.
Apprenticeship: Quality Control Technician.
Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians; Industrial Technology/Technician; Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $66,120 a year The middle half earn $55,760 to $80,280.
About 76,700 people work in this job now, and about 79,000 are projected by 2035. (+3.1%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Industrial Engineering Technologist or Technician?

How much does an Industrial Engineering Technologist or Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $66,120 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $55,760 to $80,280.

Is an Industrial Engineering Technologist or Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 76,700 to about 79,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Industrial Engineering Technologist or Technician?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Industrial Engineering Technician.

Will AI change the work of an Industrial Engineering Technologist or Technician?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.