Industrial Engineers

ManufacturingO*NET 17-2112.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $102,272
Projected change: +12.9%
Typical education: Bachelor's degree
Employment: 366.86K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What industrial engineers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities.
Record or oversee recording of information to ensure currency of engineering drawings and documentation of production problems.
Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
Draft and design layout of equipment, materials, and workspace to illustrate maximum efficiency using drafting tools and computer.
Direct workers engaged in product measurement, inspection, and testing activities to ensure quality control and reliability.
Develop manufacturing methods, labor utilization standards, and cost analysis systems to promote efficient staff and facility utilization.
Review production schedules, engineering specifications, orders, and related information to obtain knowledge of manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities.
Implement methods and procedures for disposition of discrepant material and defective or damaged parts, and assess cost and responsibility.
Complete production reports, purchase orders, and material, tool, and equipment lists.
Coordinate and implement quality control objectives, activities, or procedures to resolve production problems, maximize product reliability, or minimize costs.
Apply statistical methods and perform mathematical calculations to determine manufacturing processes, staff requirements, and production standards.
Study operations sequence, material flow, functional statements, organization charts, and project information to determine worker functions and responsibilities.
Formulate sampling procedures and designs and develop forms and instructions for recording, evaluating, and reporting quality and reliability data.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $74,054
25th percentile: $83,336
50th percentile: $102,272
75th percentile: $129,454
90th percentile: $160,763

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $102,272 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+12.9%faster than average

2025366,862 jobs

2035 projected414,227 jobs

47,365 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Bachelor's degree: 63%
Some college: 15.8%
Master's or Professional degree: 11.1%
High school diploma or less: 7.5%
Associate degree: 2.6%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Continuous Improvement Process
Process Improvement
Industrial Engineering
Lean Manufacturing
Project Management
Manufacturing Processes
Auditing
Root Cause Analysis
Supply Chain
Supplier Quality Management
New Product Development
Supplier Quality Engineering
Process Engineering
Data Analysis
Six Sigma Methodology
Mechanical Engineering
Workflow Management
Manufacturing Engineering
Packaging And Labeling
Automation

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Industrial Engineers4,037 postings
02Supplier Quality Engineers3,886 postings
03Process Engineers2,737 postings
04Packaging Engineers1,744 postings
05Production Engineers1,189 postings
06Quality Engineers992 postings
07Production Support Engineers480 postings
08Industrial Engineering Interns474 postings
09Plant Engineers431 postings
10Supplier Quality Managers334 postings
11Industrialization Engineers298 postings
12Principal Engineers295 postings
13Engineers278 postings
14Continuous Improvement Engineers251 postings
15Engineering Interns243 postings
16Manufacturing Industrial Engineers188 postings
17Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers186 postings
18Industrial Process Engineers164 postings
19Supplier Engineers162 postings
20Engineering Technicians152 postings

Top employers

01Actalent834 postings
02RTX500 postings
03GE Aerospace495 postings
04Northrop Grumman396 postings
05Insight Global352 postings
06Lockheed Martin340 postings
07Tesla254 postings
08Boeing246 postings
09BAE Systems225 postings
10Jabil214 postings
11Cardinal Health166 postings
12ManpowerGroup156 postings
13CDM Smith149 postings
14Anduril Industries146 postings
15L3Harris Technologies140 postings
16Ryder136 postings
17Kiewit Corporation120 postings
18General Motors115 postings
19GE Vernova112 postings
20Randstad111 postings

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