Industrial Engineers Career, Salary and Skills
Industrial Engineers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $102,440 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 365,740. Wage data is published for 403 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
17-2112.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$102,440
Hourly median
$49.25
Employment
365,740
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.50 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Writing | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 4.25 |
| Mathematics | 3.25 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.25 | 3.88 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.25 | 3.75 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Statgraphics
- 3D Static Strength Prediction Program 3DSSPP
- A mathematical programming language AMPL
- Allen Bradley PanelView
- Assembly line balancing software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Automatic dynamic incremental nonlinear analysis ADINA
- Bentley MicroStation
- C++
- Computer numerical control CNC software
- Dassault Systemes Abaqus
Industrial Engineers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Industrial Engineers Salary in CAMedian $124,600 · Employment 32,680
- Industrial Engineers Salary in MIMedian $101,680 · Employment 30,990
- Industrial Engineers Salary in TXMedian $104,560 · Employment 30,980
- Industrial Engineers Salary in OHMedian $100,060 · Employment 23,480
- Industrial Engineers Salary in ILMedian $100,540 · Employment 18,640
- Industrial Engineers Salary in MNMedian $102,660 · Employment 17,580
- Industrial Engineers Salary in Detroit, MIMedian $104,110 · Employment 17,350
- Industrial Engineers Salary in FLMedian $101,610 · Employment 14,050
- Industrial Engineers Salary in Minneapolis, MNMedian $104,730 · Employment 13,970
- Industrial Engineers Salary in PAMedian $99,560 · Employment 13,180
- Industrial Engineers Salary in WIMedian $96,980 · Employment 13,070
- Industrial Engineers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $101,760 · Employment 12,750
Related careers
- Architectural and Engineering ManagersNational median $171,270
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansNational median $82,890
- Automotive EngineersNational median $104,110
- Team AssemblersNational median not published
- Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerNational median $130,220
- Project Management SpecialistsNational median $102,320
- Calibration Technologists and TechniciansNational median $67,820
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansNational median $78,190
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.