Industrial Production Technology
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Types of Degrees Industrial Production Technology Majors Are Earning
People majoring in Industrial Production Technology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.
| Award Level | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Certificate | 1,573 |
| Associate’s Degree | 2,631 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 2,022 |
| Master’s Degree | 4,416 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 7 |
What Industrial Production Technology Majors Need to Know
Studies in Industrial Production Technology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Industrial Production Technology graduates commonly enter.
Knowledge Areas
According to O*NET, a major in Industrial Production Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
- Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
- Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
- English Language — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
- Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
- Production and Processing — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*
Skills
Skills developed in a Industrial Production Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
- Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
- Critical Thinking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
- Active Listening — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
- Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
- Monitoring — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
Abilities
The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Industrial Production Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:
- Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
- Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
- Written Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
- Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
- Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
Common Job Activities
Day-to-day, Industrial Production Technology graduates report doing:
| Activity | Frequency / Importance |
|---|---|
| Getting Information | 4.2 / 7 |
| Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials | 4.1 / 7 |
| Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings | 4.0 / 7 |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems | 4.0 / 7 |
| Working with Computers | 4.0 / 7 |
| Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | 3.9 / 7 |
| Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards | 3.9 / 7 |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | 3.9 / 7 |
| Documenting/Recording Information | 3.9 / 7 |
| Controlling Machines and Processes | 3.8 / 7 |
Technology Skills Used on the Job
Most frequently-cited tools used by Industrial Production Technology professionals:
| Tool / Software | Category | In-Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | ✓ |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | ✓ |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | ✓ |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | ✓ |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | — |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | — |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | — |
| National Instruments LabVIEW | Development environment software | — |
| Database software | Data base user interface and query software | — |
| Computer aided design CAD software | Computer aided design CAD software | — |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | ✓ |
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | — |
Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*
Sample Job Titles
Real job postings for Industrial Production Technology graduates include:
- Test Technician (Test Tech)
- Laser Specialist
- Test Technician
- Engineering Technician
- Manufacturing Technician
- Process Technician
- Fiber Optics Design Technician (Fiber Optics Design Tech)
- Photonics Engineer
- Fiber Optics Assembler
- Optical Fabrication Technician (Optical Fabrication Tech)
- Laser Technician (Laser Tech)
- Fiber Optics Instructor
- Fiber Optics Technician (Fiber Optics Tech)
- Splicing Technician (Splicing Tech)
- Fiber Splicer
Education Typically Required
Across the occupations open to Industrial Production Technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:
| Education Level | Share of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 43.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 19.3% |
| Some college courses | 10.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.3% |
| Master’s degree | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.8% |
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Who Is Earning a Degree in Industrial Production Technology?
Gender Distribution
This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 83.5% of Industrial Production Technology degrees.
| Gender | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 1,883 | 16.5% |
| Men | 9,508 | 83.5% |
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Industrial Production Technology graduates is as follows:
| Race / Ethnicity | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,840 | 60.0% |
| Asian | 303 | 2.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,440 | 12.6% |
| Black or African American | 1,157 | 10.2% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 132 | 1.2% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 16 | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races | 378 | 3.3% |
| Race Unknown | 420 | 3.7% |
| International Students | 705 | 6.2% |
See minority definition below.
How Much Do Industrial Production Technology Graduates Earn?
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Industrial Production Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $59,570 |
| 4 years | $66,536 |
| 5 years | $74,003 |
By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $74,003 — roughly 24% above the 1-year mark.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Online Industrial Production Technology Programs
Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Industrial Production Technology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).
| Award Level | Distance-Ed Available | Distance-Ed Only |
|---|---|---|
| Associate’s | 13 | 28 |
| Bachelor’s | 15 | 16 |
| Master’s | 4 | 4 |
Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.
Is a Degree in Industrial Production Technology Worth It?
Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Industrial Production Technology graduates earn a median of $66,536 four years after completion — roughly 75% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).
ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.
Related Programs
You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:
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References
The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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