Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Industrial engineers work in a field that combines analytical thinking, problem solving, and innovation. With national employment of 351,000 and a projected growth rate of 11.0%, this role offers a sizable and expanding professional community. The national median annual salary of $101,140 places this occupation in a strong earning range, and there are an estimated 25,000 annual openings, suggesting steady hiring activity over time. The role draws on strengths in mathematics, science, computers and information technology, and project management, making it appealing to people who enjoy systematic analysis and continuous improvement. Success in this career also depends on critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and being detail oriented, paired with strong writing and reading skills. Adaptability and sound decision making help industrial engineers navigate changing priorities and complex challenges. Overall, this occupation offers a blend of technical rigor and problem-solving work in an environment with ongoing demand and solid compensation potential.
Industrial engineers benefit from a national median annual salary of $101,140, with several states and metro areas offering higher median pay. Among states, Washington shows a median salary of $129,050, while California reports $124,600 and Colorado and Massachusetts are both around the $109,000 range. New York’s median of $102,640 is close to the national figure. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, has a median of $136,950, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, shows $132,230. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, are also above $115,000. These figures indicate that location can significantly influence earning potential, with certain states and metro areas offering noticeably higher median pay than the national median. For professionals able to relocate, comparing these salary levels against personal costs and preferences can be an important part of long-term career planning.
The employment outlook for industrial engineers is supported by both current employment levels and future projections. National employment stands at 351,000, indicating a large existing workforce. Projected employment growth of 11.0% suggests that demand for industrial engineers is expected to increase over time, rather than remaining flat. In addition, there are an estimated 25,000 annual openings, which reflects a combination of new positions and the need to replace workers who change roles or leave the occupation. Together, these figures point to a field with ongoing hiring needs and room for new entrants as well as experienced professionals seeking advancement or relocation. For students and career changers, the combination of current employment scale, positive projected growth, and consistent annual openings provides a solid foundation for considering industrial engineering as a viable long-term career option.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity levels for industrial engineers, as shown by variation in median salaries, employment counts, and CareerGPS opportunity scores. Among states, California stands out with 32,680 employed industrial engineers, a median salary of $124,600, and an opportunity score of 67.38, combining sizable employment with strong pay. Massachusetts and New York each employ over 11,000 industrial engineers and have opportunity scores above 65, with median salaries of $109,420 and $102,640, respectively. Colorado and Washington show smaller employment counts—5,200 and 6,130—but offer median salaries around or above $109,750 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, along with strong salaries. San Francisco, Washington DC-area, and Boston metros also combine high salaries with solid opportunity scores, giving professionals multiple geographic options to consider.
The typical education requirement for industrial engineers is a bachelor’s degree, which aligns with the occupation’s emphasis on analytical and technical competencies. This academic foundation supports the use of mathematics and science, which are central skills for success in the role. The importance of computers and information technology, as well as project management, suggests that formal education often needs to be complemented by comfort with digital tools and organized execution of complex work. Critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and creativity and innovation are also key, indicating that the educational path should help students learn to approach problems systematically while generating new ideas. Being detail oriented and having strong writing and reading skills support accurate analysis and clear communication. Adaptability rounds out the skill set, helping industrial engineers adjust to new information and changing conditions. Together, the bachelor’s degree and this range of skills create a solid preparation for entering and growing in this field.
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