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.
Associate'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.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians work in a field that combines technical knowledge with analytical thinking to improve systems and processes. With national employment of about 75,000 and projected growth of 1.7%, this career offers a defined presence in the labor market and modest expansion potential. The national median annual salary of $64,790 indicates a solid earning level, with higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. The role favors people who enjoy mathematics, science, problem solving, and working with mechanical and computer-based systems. Strong skills in critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, project management, and attention to detail are also important. The typical entry path is an associate’s degree, which can make this career accessible to those seeking a technical role without a longer education commitment. For people interested in applied engineering support roles, it can be a strong option alongside similar paths such as electrical, mechanical, aerospace, and other engineering technologist and technician careers.
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians earn a national median annual salary of $64,790. This provides a useful baseline when comparing locations and planning a career path. Pay can vary notably by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $79,070 and Washington follows closely at $78,430. Massachusetts and New York offer median salaries of $71,830 and $70,290, while Colorado’s median is $66,850. At the metro level, some areas show even higher earning potential. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro reports a median salary of $90,660, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA area reports $80,180. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH metros offer median salaries of $75,260 and $74,250, respectively. These differences highlight the importance of location in potential earnings.
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians have national employment of about 75,000, indicating a substantial workforce in this occupation. Projected employment growth of 1.7% suggests a modest increase over time rather than rapid expansion or steep decline. With approximately 6,000 annual openings, there is ongoing movement and opportunity in the field, which can come from a mix of new positions and turnover in existing jobs. The same 1.7% growth rate is reflected in the top states and metros by opportunity score, indicating consistent projected growth across these highlighted regions. For job seekers and career changers, this means the occupation offers a combination of an established employment base and steady, if measured, growth. People weighing this path can consider the balance of a defined, stable occupation with consistent annual openings, alongside location-based differences in salary and opportunity scores when planning their long-term trajectory.
Location can significantly shape the experience and opportunities for industrial engineering technologists and technicians. Among states, California has the highest opportunity score (67.38), with a median salary of $79,070 and employment of 5,710. Massachusetts and New York follow closely in opportunity score (65.87 and 65.78), with median salaries of $71,830 and $70,290 and employment of 2,070 and 4,090, respectively. Colorado and Washington have somewhat lower opportunity scores (56.97 and 56.29), but Washington’s median salary of $78,430 is close to California’s. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $90,660. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has a similarly strong opportunity score of 77.27 and median pay of $75,260. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also offer notable combinations of employment, pay, and opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for industrial engineering technologists and technicians is an associate’s degree, making this career accessible to those seeking a technical role without a bachelor’s degree. Success in this field relies on a broad mix of technical and analytical skills. Key strengths include mathematics and science, which support quantitative and empirical thinking. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, are important for evaluating options and choosing effective approaches. Creativity and innovation also play a role, as do mechanical skills and being highly detail oriented. Competence with computers and information technology and familiarity with project management help in organizing and executing work. Strong writing and reading skills are important for understanding technical information and documenting work clearly. Together, this combination of education and skills positions industrial engineering technologists and technicians for applied, process-oriented roles within the broader engineering technologist and technician landscape.
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