How to become an Industrial Engineer
Official title: Industrial Engineers
Also called: Continuous Improvement Engineer, Engineer, Facilities Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Operations Engineer, Plant Engineer, Process Engineer, Project Engineer, Quality Engineer, Research and Development Engineer (R and D Engineer)
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.
Main tasks
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
- Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
- Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
- Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
- Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
- Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities.
- Record or oversee recording of information to ensure currency of engineering drawings and documentation of production problems.
How to become one
Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a related field, such as mechanical or electrical engineering.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Logistics Engineer.
- College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 47 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $102,440 a year The middle half earn $83,600 to $129,250.
- About 365,100 people work in this job now, and about 410,600 are projected by 2035. (+12.4%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Related jobs
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
- Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
- Validation Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineers
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Industrial Engineer?
Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a related field, such as mechanical or electrical engineering.
How much does an Industrial Engineer earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $102,440 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $83,600 to $129,250.
Is an Industrial Engineer a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 365,100 to about 410,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Industrial Engineer?
Usually. 77% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Industrial Engineer?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
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.