Considering a career as an industrial engineer? These professionals devise systems that integrate industrial workers, machines, materials, information and energy to maximize productivity and efficiency in making a product or providing a service. This guide provides all the necessary information and resources to get started. Find out everything you need to know about this occupation, including qualifications, pay and standard duties.

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Industrial Engineers
Table of Contents
04 Summary
14 Advancement
15 Important Qualities
17 Pay
18 Job Outlook
19 State & Area Data
21 Similar Occupations
24 Contacts for More Information

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Industrial Engineers
Summary
Industrial engineers review production schedules, engineering specifications, and
process flows to understand activities in manufacturing and services.
Quick Facts: Industrial Engineers
2014 Median Pay $81,490 per year
$39.18 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2014 241,100
Job Outlook, 2014-24 1% (Little or no change)
Employment Change, 2014-24 2,100

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What Industrial Engineers Do
Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes.
They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, infor-
mation, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
Work Environment
Depending on their tasks, industrial engineers work either in offices or in the
they may watch workers assembling parts in a factory. When solving problems,
they may be in an office at a computer, looking at data that they or others have
collected.
How to Become an Industrial Engineer
Most Industrial Industrial engineers need a bachelor’s degree, typically in indus-
trial engineering. However, many industrial engineers have degrees in mechanical
engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engi-
neering technology, or general engineering.
Pay
The median annual wage for industrial engineers was $81,490 in May 2014.
Job Outlook
Employment of industrial engineers is projected to show little or no change from
2014 to 2024. Firms in a variety of industries will continue to seek new ways to
contain costs and improve efficiency.

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State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for industrial
engineers.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of industrial engineers with
similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about industrial engineers by visiting additional resources, including
O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

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What Industrial Engineers Do
Industrial engineers develop job evaluation programs, amongst other duties.
Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production process-
es. They devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials,
information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
Duties
Industrial Engineers typically do the following:
• Review production schedules, engineering specifications, process flows, and
other information to understand methods that are applied and activities
that take place in manufacturing and services

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• Figure out how to manufacture parts or products, or deliver services, with
maximum efficiency
• Develop management control systems to make financial planning and cost
analysis more efficient
• Enact quality control procedures to resolve production problems
or minimize costs
• Design control systems to coordinate activities and production planning in
order to ensure that products meet quality standards
• Confer with clients about product specifications, vendors about purchases,
management personnel about manufacturing capabilities, and staff about
the status of projects
• Industrial engineers apply their skills to many different situations, from
manufacturing to healthcare systems to business administration.
For example, they design systems for
• moving heavy parts within manufacturing plants
• delivering goods from a company to customers, including finding the most
profitable places to locate manufacturing or processing plants
• evaluating job performance
• paying workers
Industrial engineers focus on how to get the work done most efficiently,
balancing many factors, such as time, number of workers needed, available
technology, actions workers need to take, achieving the end product with no
errors, workers’ safety, environmental concerns, and cost.
To find ways to reduce waste and improve performance, industrial engineers
study product requirements carefully. Then they use mathematical methods
and models to design manufacturing and information systems to meet those
requirements most efficiently.

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Their versatility allows industrial engineers to engage in activities that are useful
to a variety of businesses, governments, and nonprofits. For example, industrial
engineers engage in supply chain management to help businesses
minimize inventory costs, conduct quality assurance activities to help businesses
keep their customer bases satisfied, and work in the growing field of project
management as industries across the economy seek to control costs and
maximize efficiencies.

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Work Environment
Industrial engineers figure out how to manufacture parts or products or deliv-
er services with maximum efficiency.
Industrial engineers held about 241,100 jobs in 2014. The industries that em-
ployed the most industrial engineers were as follows:
Computer and electronic product manufacturing 13%
Machinery manufacturing 9
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 8
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing 6
Engineering services 5

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Depending on their tasks, industrial engineers work either in offices or in
the settings they are trying to improve. For example, when observing prob-
lems, they may watch workers assembling parts in a factory. When solving
problems, industrial engineers may be in an office at a computer where they
analyze data that they or others have collected.
Industrial engineers may need to travel to observe processes and make as-
sessments in various work settings.
Work Schedules
Most industrial engineers work full time. Depending upon the projects in
which these engineers are engaged, and the industries in which the projects
are taking place, hours may vary.

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How to Become an Industrial Engineer
To find ways to reduce waste and improve performance, industrial engineers
carefully study product requirements.
Industrial engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value ex-
perience, so cooperative education engineering programs at universities are
also valuable.
Education
Industrial engineers need a bachelor’s degree, typically in industrial engineer-
ing. However, many industrial engineers have degrees in mechanical engi-
neering, electrical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engi-
neering technology, or general engineering. Students interested in studying
industrial engineering should take high school courses in mathematics, such
as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; computer science; and sciences such
as chemistry and physics.

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Bachelor’s degree programs include lectures in classrooms and practice in
laboratories. Courses include statistics, production systems planning, and man-
ufacturing systems design, among others. Many colleges and universities offer
cooperative education programs in which students gain practical experience
while completing their education.
A few colleges and universities offer 5-year degree programs in industrial en-
gineering that lead to a bachelor’s and master’s degree upon completion, and
several more offer similar programs in mechanical engineering. A graduate
degree allows an engineer to work as a professor at a college or university or to
engage in research and development. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative
education plans combine classroom study with practical work, permitting stu-
dents to gain experience and to finance part of their education.
Programs in industrial engineering are accredited by ABET.

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Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as an industrial engineer. A
Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of lead-
ership and independence, can be acquired later in one’s career. Licensed
engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work
of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the
public. State licensure generally requires
• A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
• A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
• Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years
• A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam
The initial FE exam can be taken after one earns a bachelor’s degree.
Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs)
or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements,
EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice
of Engineering.
Several states require engineers to take continuing education in order to keep
their licenses. Most states recognize licenses from other states, as long as the
other state’s licensing requirements meet or exceed their own licensing re-
quirements.
Advancement
Beginning industrial engineers usually work under the supervision of experi-
enced engineers. In large companies, new engineers also may receive formal
training in classes or seminars. As beginning engineers gain knowledge and ex-
perience, they move on to more difficult projects with greater independence
to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions.

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Eventually, industrial engineers may advance to become technical specialists,
such as quality engineers or facility planners. In that role, they supervise a team
of engineers and technicians. Obtaining a master’s degree facilitates such spe-
cialization and thus advancement.
Many industrial engineers move into management positions because the work
they do is closely related to the work of managers. For more information, see
the profile on architectural and engineering managers.
Important Qualities
Creativity. Industrial engineers use creativity and ingenuity to design new pro-
duction processes in many kinds of settings in order to reduce the use of mate-
rial resources, time, or labor while accomplishing the same goal.
Critical-thinking skills. Industrial engineers create new systems to solve prob-
lems related to waste and inefficiency. Solving these problems requires logic
and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions,
conclusions, or approaches to the problems.
Listening skills. These engineers often operate in teams, but they also must
solicit feedback from customers, vendors, and production staff. They must listen
to customers and clients in order to fully grasp ideas and problems the first
time.
Math skills. Industrial engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry,
and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and trouble-
shooting in their work.

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Problem-solving skills. In designing facilities for manufacturing and process-
es for providing services, these engineers deal with several issues at once, from
workers’ safety to quality assurance.
Speaking skills. Industrial engineers sometimes have to explain their instruc-
tions to production staff or technicians before they can make written instruc-
tions available. Being able to explain concepts clearly and quickly is crucial to
preventing costly mistakes and loss of time.
Writing skills. Industrial engineers must prepare documentation for other
engineers or scientists, or for future reference. The documentation must be co-
herent and explain their thinking clearly so that the others can understand the
information.

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Pay
Industrial Engineers
Median annual wages, May 2014
Engineers
$88,720
Industrial Engineers
$81,490
Total, all occupations
$35,540
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
The median annual wage for industrial engineers was $81,490 in May 2014. 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
$52,510, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $123,400.
In May 2014, the median annual wages for industrial engineers in the top indus-
tries in which they worked were as follows:
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing $90,280
Computer and electronic product manufacturing 88,610
Engineering services 86,030
Machinery manufacturing 77,310
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing 73,900
Most industrial engineers work full time. Depending upon the projects in which
these engineers are engaged, and the industries in which the projects are taking
place, hours may vary.

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Job Outlook
Industrial Engineers
Percent change in employment, projected 2014-24
Total, all occupations
7%
Engineers
4%
Industrial engineers
1%
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Employment of industrial engineers is projected to show little or no change
from 2014 to 2024. This occupation is versatile both in the nature of the work
it does and in the industries in which its expertise can be put to use.
Because they are not as specialized as other engineers, industrial engineers
are employed in a wide range of industries, including major manufacturing
industries, consulting and engineering services, research and development
firms, and wholesale trade. This versatility arises from the fact that these engi-
neers’ expertise focuses on reducing internal costs, making their work valuable
for many industries. For example, their work is important for manufacturing
industries that are considering relocating from overseas to domestic sites. In
addition, growth in healthcare and changes in how healthcare is delivered will
create demand for industrial engineers in firms in professional, scientific, and
consulting services. Projected declines in employment in some manufacturing
sectors will temper growth for industrial engineers overall.

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Job Prospects
Likely retirements over the next decade will create more openings within the
occupation and therefore more employment opportunities for aspiring industrial
engineers.
Employment projections data for Industrial Engineers, 2014-24
Occupa-
tional Title
SOC
Code
Employ-
ment,
2014
Projected
Employ-
ment,
2024
Change, 2014-24 Employ-
ment by
Industry
Percent
Numeric
Industrial
engineers
17-2112 241,100 243,200 1 2,100 [XLSX]
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
State & Area Data
Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)
The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) 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 nonmet-
ropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES 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 pro-
jections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site
allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among

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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.
Career InfoNet
America’s Career InfoNet 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 wag-
es by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for
wages by zip code.

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Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those
of Industrial Engineers.
Occupation Job Duties
ENTRY-LEVEL
EDUCATION
2014
MEDIAN
PAY
Computer and In-
formation Research
Scientists
Computer and information
research scientists invent and
design new approaches to
computing technology and find
innovative uses for existing
technology. They study and
solve complex problems in
computing for business, medi-
cine, science, and other fields.
Doctoral or pro-
fessional degree
$108,360
Computer and In-
formation Systems
Managers
Computer and information
systems managers, often
called information technology
(IT) managers or IT project
managers, plan, coordinate,
and direct computer-related
activities in an organization.
They help determine the infor-
mation technology goals of an
organization and are responsi-
ble for implementing computer
systems to meet those goals.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$127,640
Computer Hardware
Engineers
Computer hardware engineers
research, design, develop, and
test computer systems and
components such as proces-
sors, circuit boards, memory
devices, networks, and routers.
These engineers discover new
directions in computer hard-
ware, which generate rapid
advances in computer technol-
ogy.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$108,430

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Computer Network
Architects
Computer network architects
design and build data commu-
nication networks, including
local area networks (LANs),
wide area networks (WANs),
and intranets. These networks
range from small connec-
tions between two offices to
next-generation networking
capabilities such as a cloud
infrastructure that serves mul-
tiple customers.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$98,430
Computer Support
Specialists
Computer support specialists
provide help and advice to
people and organizations using
computer software or equip-
ment. Some, called computer
network support specialists,
support information technolo-
gy (IT) employees within their
organization. Others, called
computer user support spe-
cialists, assist non-IT users who
are having computer problems.
See How to Be-
come One
$50,380
Computer Systems
Analysts
Computer systems analysts
study an organization’s current
computer systems and proce-
dures and design information
systems solutions to help the
organization operate more
efficiently and effectively. They
bring business and information
technology (IT) together by
understanding the needs and
limitations of both.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$82,710
Database Administra-
tors
Database administrators
(DBAs) use specialized soft-
ware to store and organize
data, such as financial infor-
mation and customer shipping
records. They make sure that
data are available to users and
are secure from unauthorized
access.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$80,280

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Information Security
Analysts
Information security analysts
plan and carry out security
measures to protect an orga-
nization’s computer networks
and systems. Their responsibil-
ities are continually expanding
as the number of cyberattacks
increases.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$88,890
Network and Comput-
er Systems Adminis-
trators
Computer networks are critical
parts of almost every organi-
zation. Network and computer
systems administrators are
responsible for the day-to-day
operation of these networks.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$75,790
Software Developers Software developers are the
creative minds behind com-
puter programs. Some develop
the applications that allow
people to do specific tasks on
a computer or another device.
Others develop the underlying
systems that run the devices or
that control networks.
Bachelor's de-
gree
$97,990
Web Developers Web developers design and
create websites. They are
responsible for the look of the
site. They are also responsible
for the site’s technical aspects,
such as its performance and
capacity, which are measures
of a website’s speed and how
much traffic the site can han-
dle. In addition, web develop-
ers may create content for the
site.
Associate's de-
gree
$63,490

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Contacts for More Information
For more information about advertising managers, visit
Association for Computing Machinery
CompTIA
IEEE Computer Society
For information about opportunities for women pursuing information tech-
nology careers, visit
National Center for Women & Information Technology
O*NET
Industrial Engineers