What is an Industrial Engineer?
Industrial Engineer Example Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
Industrial Engineer Responsibilities
- Review production schedules, engineering specifications, orders, and related information to obtain knowledge of manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities.
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
- Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
- Direct workers engaged in product measurement, inspection, and testing activities to ensure quality control and reliability.
- Record or oversee recording of information to ensure currency of engineering drawings and documentation of production problems.
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Industrial Engineer Skills
Industrial Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Other Industrial Engineer Job Titles
- Quality Assurance Technician
- Metrologist
- Tool Planner
- Test Inspection Engineer
- Quality Control Director
Job Outlook for Industrial Engineers
There were about 257,900 jobs for Industrial Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,100 new jobs for Industrial Engineer by 2026. There will be an estimated 19,700 positions for Industrial Engineer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Industrial Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and Alabama. Watch out if you plan on working in New Mexico, Vermont, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Industrial Engineers Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Industrial Engineers ranges between about $56,470 and $132,340 a year.

Industrial Engineers who work in Wyoming, Washington, or Texas, make the highest salaries.
How much do Industrial Engineers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $87,870 |
Arizona | $95,940 |
Arkansas | $77,100 |
California | $107,810 |
Colorado | $100,460 |
Connecticut | $89,830 |
Delaware | $94,590 |
District of Columbia | $88,380 |
Florida | $77,410 |
Georgia | $86,220 |
Hawaii | $95,590 |
Idaho | $94,830 |
Illinois | $88,850 |
Indiana | $74,430 |
Iowa | $82,770 |
Kansas | $79,580 |
Kentucky | $79,170 |
Louisiana | $99,090 |
Maine | $88,020 |
Maryland | $102,200 |
Massachusetts | $102,210 |
Michigan | $89,330 |
Minnesota | $90,580 |
Mississippi | $82,040 |
Missouri | $87,620 |
Montana | $100,640 |
Nebraska | $85,950 |
Nevada | $87,140 |
New Hampshire | $91,530 |
New Jersey | $98,050 |
New Mexico | $102,120 |
New York | $94,700 |
North Carolina | $87,110 |
North Dakota | $79,980 |
Ohio | $84,060 |
Oklahoma | $85,280 |
Oregon | $90,980 |
Pennsylvania | $86,080 |
Rhode Island | $97,610 |
South Carolina | $87,080 |
South Dakota | $82,780 |
Tennessee | $84,070 |
Texas | $109,880 |
Utah | $89,830 |
Vermont | $79,700 |
Virginia | $93,980 |
Washington | $106,980 |
West Virginia | $94,480 |
Wisconsin | $77,260 |
Wyoming | $102,730 |
What Tools do Industrial Engineers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Industrial Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Linux
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Extensible markup language XML
- Microsoft SQL Server
Becoming an Industrial Engineer
Education needed to be an Industrial Engineer:

What work experience do I need to become an Industrial Engineer?

Where do Industrial Engineers Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Industrial Engineers employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Industrial Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as an Industrial Engineer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Logistics Engineers
- Product Safety Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Robotics Engineers
References:
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