Industrial Engineer
Industrial engineers design, develop, and test integrated systems for managing industrial production processes.
What the job is
- The work
- Industrial engineers design, develop, and test integrated systems for managing industrial production processes.
BLS
Industrial Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Industrial engineers work in a variety of settings, such as offices and manufacturing plants. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
BLS
Industrial Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Students who like math, statistics and finding faster, safer and cheaper ways to make things.
- Career cluster
- Advanced Manufacturing
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (industrial engineers).
- Median pay
- $102,440 a year ($49.25 an hour)
BLS
Industrial Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 365,100
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +12%, which BLS calls "much faster than average"
BLS
Industrial Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +45,400 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field, such as mechanical or electrical engineering.
BLS
Industrial Engineers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- In short
- Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or a related field such as mechanical or electrical engineering. No license is needed for entry-level jobs; experienced engineers may earn a PE license.
- License
- Optional (PE)
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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StateChoose a state
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Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Industrial engineer: bachelor's degree, optional PE license
See the roadmap
Route 1: Bachelor's in industrial engineering · Route 2: 5-year bachelor's + master's program · Route 3: Optional: Professional Engineer (PE) license
More careers in Advanced Manufacturing
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 21 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.