Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians: Career Overview
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
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What Do Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of industrial engineering technologists and technicians span:
- Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
- Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
- Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
- Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications.
- Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance.
- Aid in planning work assignments in accordance with worker performance, machine capacity, production schedules, or anticipated delays.
Skills and Knowledge
Top industrial engineering technologists and technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 3D Printing Tech (Three Dimensional Printing Technician)
- Additive Manufacturing Production Technician
- Additive Manufacturing Technician
- Analysis Tester
- Boiler Water Tester
- Business Process Analyst
- CAD Specialist (Computer Aided Design Specialist)
- Cellophane Tester
Employment and Demand
There are about 261,331 industrial engineering technologists and technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +2.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $50,036 |
| Hourly median | $24.06 |
| 10th percentile | $33,942 |
| 25th percentile | $41,989 |
| 75th percentile | $58,083 |
| 90th percentile | $66,130 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $94,110 |
| Washington | $81,530 |
| Maryland | $78,800 |
| California | $77,350 |
| Oregon | $76,370 |
| Missouri | $75,000 |
| Oklahoma | $74,960 |
| North Dakota | $72,560 |
| Massachusetts | $71,370 |
| Arizona | $69,900 |
| Illinois | $69,430 |
| South Carolina | $69,250 |
| New York | $66,830 |
| Minnesota | $66,260 |
| New Hampshire | $66,080 |
| North Carolina | $65,960 |
| Utah | $65,330 |
| Colorado | $64,890 |
| Connecticut | $64,820 |
| Maine | $64,790 |
| Rhode Island | $64,750 |
| Wisconsin | $64,680 |
| Virginia | $64,170 |
| Vermont | $63,700 |
| Ohio | $63,690 |
| Kentucky | $63,430 |
| West Virginia | $62,820 |
| New Jersey | $62,780 |
| Michigan | $62,040 |
| Idaho | $61,710 |
| Nebraska | $61,690 |
| Indiana | $61,480 |
| Texas | $60,900 |
| Georgia | $60,790 |
| Iowa | $60,330 |
| Alabama | $59,860 |
| Nevada | $59,740 |
| Arkansas | $59,720 |
| Tennessee | $59,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,590 |
| New Mexico | $59,290 |
| Montana | $58,640 |
| Mississippi | $57,370 |
| Kansas | $52,700 |
| Florida | $52,620 |
| South Dakota | $50,390 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,760 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for industrial engineering technologists and technicians vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $75,478 | 9.6% | 0.70 |
| New England | $68,382 | 5.1% | 1.13 |
| Middle Atlantic | $65,486 | 10.1% | 0.74 |
| Plains States | $65,180 | 10.9% | 2.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $64,496 | 3.4% | 1.15 |
| Southwest | $64,203 | 11.0% | 0.90 |
| Great Lakes | $63,815 | 27.1% | 2.15 |
| Southeast | $58,016 | 21.5% | 1.07 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | LA | $133,410 | 130 |
| Midland, TX | TX | $110,900 | 50 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $107,810 | 50 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | TX | $104,580 | 100 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $102,420 | 30 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $94,110 | 30 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | GA | $92,800 | 290 |
| Pittsfield, MA | MA | $89,740 | 60 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of industrial engineering technologists and technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 56,040 | $63,320 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8,450 | $73,560 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2,460 | $76,410 |
| Wholesale Trade | 2,130 | $65,260 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,580 | $51,430 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 400 | $63,510 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 270 | $105,570 |
| Utilities | 220 | $100,220 |
Below are examples of industries where industrial engineering technologists and technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of industrial engineering technologists and technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Most industrial engineering technologists and technicians positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Production Managers (Supplemental)
- Chemical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electrical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Validation Engineers (Supplemental)
- Manufacturing Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Materials Engineers (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future industrial engineering technologists and technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
8 programs across 4 majors
- Industrial Production Technology
- Engineering-Related Fields
- Quality Control Technology
- General Engineering Technology
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3026.00 (Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians).
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