Some Industrial Engineers, called manufacturing engineers, focus entirely on the automated aspects of manufacturing processes. They design manufacturing systems to optimize the use of computer networks, robots, and materials. 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.
The versatility of industrial Engineers allows them 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.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Some Industrial Engineers, called manufacturing engineers, focus entirely on the automated aspects of manufacturing processes. They design manufacturing systems to optimize the use of computer networks, robots, and materials. 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.
The versatility of industrial engineers allows them 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.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Job Prospects
Many companies will be seeking to make use of new technologies to automate production processes in many different kinds of industries, including manufacturing industries. Those with knowledge of manufacturing engineering may find better prospects for employment.
Employment projections data for industrial engineers, 2016-26
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 | Change, 2016-26 | Employment by Industry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||||
| Industrial Engineers | 17-2112 | 257,900 | 283,000 | 10 | 25,100 |  xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Employment projections data for industrial engineers, 2016-26
| Occupational Title |
|---|
| Industrial Engineers |
| SOC Code |
| 17-2112 |
| Employment, 2016 |
| 257,900 |
| Projected Employment, 2026 |
| 283,000 |
| CHANGE, 2016-26 |
| PERCENT |
| 10 |
| NUMERIC |
| 25,100 |
| EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY |
| xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Pay
The median annual wage for industrial engineers was $85,880 in May 2017. 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 $55,230, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $130,930.
In May 2017, the median annual wages for industrial engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $94,120 |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $93,830 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $89,080 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $77,960 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $73,940 |
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.
Industrial Engineers
Median annual wages, May 2017
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Job Outlook
Employment of industrial engineers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. 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 engineers focus 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 overall employment in some manufacturing sectors will temper total growth for industrial engineers.
Industrial Engineers
Percent change in employment, projected 2016-26
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Run Your First Background Check for Industrial Engineers
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| Occupational Title | Job duties | Entry-Level education | 2017 Median pay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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Industrial Engineering Technicians | Industrial engineering technicians assist industrial engineers in devising efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs. | Associate's Degree | $54,280 |
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|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $137,720 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Cost Estimators |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Cost estimators collect and analyze data in order to estimate the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. They generally specialize in a particular product or industry. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $63,110 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Health and Safety Engineers |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Health and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to protect people from illness and injury and property from damage. They combine knowledge of engineering and of health and safety to make sure that chemicals, machinery, software, furniture, and other products will not cause harm to people or damage to property. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $88,510 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Industrial Engineering Technicians |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Industrial engineering technicians assist industrial engineers in devising efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They prepare machinery and equipment layouts, plan workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Associate's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $54,280 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Industrial Production Managers |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $100,580 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Logisticians |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain—the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer. They manage the entire life cycle of a product, which includes how a product is acquired, allocated, and delivered. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $74,590 |
Free Staffing Resources
Top 20 Industrial Engineer Companies
- Fluor
- WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
- Arup
- Vanderweil Engineers
- Affiliated Engineers
- Syska Hennessy Group
Professional Recruiter and Staffing Organizations
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National Association of Personnel Services
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Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals
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American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment
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National Association of Executive Recruiters
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National Association for Health Care Recruitment
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Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association
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American Staffing Association
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Top Echelon Recruiting Network
