Industrial Engineers

Summary

What Industrial Engineers Do About this section

Industrial engineers collect data on processes and production.

Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They assess workers, quality control, logistics, and other factors involved in coordinating production.

Duties

Industrial engineers typically do the following:

• Evaluate manufacturing, delivery, customer experience, or other systems and identify ways to improve productivity and quality
• Collect data on processes and production through observations of work activities, time studies, and staff surveys
• Analyze data to identify trends and areas for improvement
• Design processes, systems, or enhancements to maximize productivity, efficiency, or space
• Collaborate with other departments to develop and implement recommendations for improving productivity or performance
• Present analysis and recommendations to management and other stakeholders

Industrial engineers focus on efficiency, balancing factors such as time, number of workers needed, and available technology to accomplish goals safely and within budget. They create products and services that are useful to a variety of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. For example, they might design systems to help move heavy parts within manufacturing plants, improve hospital wait times, or increase vehicle safety.

The following are examples of types of industrial engineers:

Human factors engineers help with products, facilities, and systems to enhance overall well being and system performance. They study the relationship between humans and technology and use those insights to optimize products and systems. For example, they may study how workers interact with manufacturing equipment and detect potential for human error that may lead to safety risks.

Manufacturing engineers design or improve manufacturing systems or related processes. They may focus on the automated aspects of manufacturing production, upgrades to facility layout, or changes to processes to reduce costs and improve product quality. They also design manufacturing systems to optimize the use of computer networks, robots, and materials.

Validation engineers ensure that equipment and systems create products that meet safety and quality requirements. They develop and supervise tests, and they evaluate test data or products to determine whether requirements have been met. They also may inspect equipment or computer systems used in the production process.

Work Environment About this section

Industrial engineers may observe factory or production layouts.

Industrial engineers held about 336,600 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of industrial engineers were as follows:

Industrial engineers work in a variety of settings. For example, they may observe workers assembling parts in a factory or spend time in an office analyzing data.

Industrial engineers may need to travel from one work setting to another, such as from their office to a hospital or railyard.

Work Schedules

Most industrial engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

How to Become an Industrial Engineer About this section

Industrial engineers often collaborate with workers across an organization.

Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field, such as mechanical or electrical engineering.

Education

High school students interested in industrial engineering should take classes in mathematics, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; computer science; and sciences, such as chemistry and physics.

Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a related field. Some prospective industrial engineers have degrees in other engineering disciplines, such as mechanical, manufacturing, or general engineering. Human factors engineers may need a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Bachelor’s degree programs include academic and laboratory coursework in subjects such as statistics, production systems planning, and manufacturing systems design. Colleges and universities may offer internship or cooperative education programs with businesses, allowing students to gain work experience while completing their education.

Some colleges and universities offer 5-year programs that lead to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.

Programs in industrial engineering are accredited by ABET.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level industrial engineer positions. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public.

State licensure typically requires a bachelor’s or higher degree in engineering, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam.

Each state issues its own license. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.

Although certification is not required, some industrial engineers choose to earn a professional credential. For example, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Project Management Institute offer certification specific to their areas of focus.

Advancement

Some industrial engineers advance to management positions. In these roles, they may supervise a team of engineers and technicians. For more information, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Industrial engineers must be able to convey complex information, both orally and in writing, to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Computer skills. Industrial engineers use software to analyze data and must be proficient in certain programs or applications, such as computer-aided drafting tools.

Creativity. Industrial engineers use ingenuity to design new production processes or service systems in many settings.

Critical-thinking skills. Industrial engineers use logic and reasoning to identify alternative solutions or approaches to the processes and systems they assess.

Interpersonal skills. Industrial engineers often collaborate with workers across an organization and must be able to work as part of a team.

Math skills. Industrial engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other mathematics in their work to analyze, design, and troubleshoot.

Problem-solving skills. Industrial engineers must be able to recognize issues that arise during production processes and recommend resolutions.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for industrial engineers was $99,380 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $65,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $142,220.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for industrial engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most industrial engineers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of industrial engineers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 25,200 openings for industrial engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Industrial engineers focus on reducing internal costs, making their work valuable in manufacturing and other industries, such as consulting and engineering services and research and development firms. As more companies look to lower costs, demand is expected to increase for industrial engineers to optimize production processes, manage supply chains and logistics, and provide expertise on automation.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Industrial engineers

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about industrial engineers, visit

Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers

For more information about general engineering education and career resources, visit

American Society for Engineering Education

Technology Student Association

For more information about licensure as an industrial engineer, visit

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying

National Society of Professional Engineers

For more information about certification as a manufacturing engineer, visit

Society of Manufacturing Engineers

For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit

ABET

For more information about human factors engineers, visit

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Occupational Requirements Survey

For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see

Industrial engineers (PDF)

O*NET

Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists

Industrial Engineers

Manufacturing Engineers

Validation Engineers