How much does a industrial engineer make?
The median industrial engineer in the United States earns $102,440 per year, about $49.25 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all industrial engineers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 17-2112.
Industrial engineer salary range
Pay for industrial engineers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $74,370 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $159,860. The average (mean) wage of $109,900 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,370 | $35.76 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $83,600 | $40.19 | |
| Median (50th) | $102,440 | $49.25 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $129,250 | $62.14 | |
| 90th percentile | $159,860 | $76.85 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for industrial engineers (SOC 17-2112), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Industrial engineer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Industrial engineers earn the most in Alaska at $156,510 a year, and the least in South Dakota at $93,200. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 | 220 |
| Washington | $129,050 | 6,130 |
| Oregon | $128,290 | 5,810 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 | 1,140 |
| California | $124,600 | 32,680 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 | 1,710 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 | 240 |
| Delaware | $120,190 | 820 |
| Maryland | $119,930 | 3,900 |
| Colorado | $109,750 | 5,200 |
| Massachusetts | $109,420 | 11,470 |
| Rhode Island | $109,350 | 990 |
| West Virginia | $108,360 | 850 |
| Arizona | $108,280 | 7,520 |
| Texas | $104,560 | 30,980 |
| Montana | $104,430 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $104,160 | 6,020 |
| Utah | $103,940 | 5,520 |
| New Jersey | $103,840 | 6,870 |
| District of Columbia | $103,300 | 160 |
| Vermont | $103,010 | 440 |
| Minnesota | $102,660 | 17,580 |
| New York | $102,640 | 11,810 |
| Virginia | $102,550 | 5,580 |
| Nevada | $102,090 | 1,570 |
| Michigan | $101,680 | 30,990 |
| Florida | $101,610 | 14,050 |
| New Hampshire | $101,310 | 1,940 |
| South Carolina | $101,060 | 7,960 |
| Maine | $101,030 | 1,030 |
| Idaho | $100,840 | 1,330 |
| Illinois | $100,540 | 18,640 |
| Georgia | $100,100 | 8,940 |
| Ohio | $100,060 | 23,480 |
| Alabama | $99,880 | 7,650 |
| Kansas | $99,830 | 3,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $99,560 | 13,180 |
| North Carolina | $99,310 | 11,580 |
| Missouri | $99,290 | 5,070 |
| Tennessee | $99,080 | 7,440 |
| Arkansas | $98,410 | 1,710 |
| Nebraska | $98,170 | 1,160 |
| Iowa | $97,690 | 3,600 |
| Oklahoma | $97,510 | 2,170 |
| Indiana | $97,480 | 11,680 |
| Wisconsin | $96,980 | 13,070 |
| North Dakota | $96,940 | 600 |
| Kentucky | $96,820 | 6,070 |
| Mississippi | $95,830 | 2,450 |
| South Dakota | $93,200 | 830 |
State median wages for industrial engineers (SOC 17-2112), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for industrial engineers
The BLS projects employment of industrial engineers to grow 12.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 365,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 410,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 23,100 openings a year for industrial engineers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an industrial engineer
The typical entry-level education for industrial engineers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an industrial engineer earns
Discipline, licensure (such as a PE license), industry, and region drive pay. Senior, licensed engineers in high demand fields and expensive metros earn near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $156,510) and the lowest (South Dakota, $93,200) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 365,740 people work as industrial engineers in the United States. At $102,440 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Industrial engineer salary FAQ
How much does an industrial engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an industrial engineer is $49.25. The middle half of industrial engineers earn between $40.19 and $62.14 per hour.
What is the highest industrial engineer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of industrial engineers earn more than $159,860 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an industrial engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for an industrial engineer is $102,440. The average (mean) wage of $109,900 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an industrial engineer a well paid job?
At $102,440 a year, an industrial engineer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 365,740 people work as industrial engineers in the United States.
Which state pays industrial engineers the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for industrial engineers at $156,510 a year. Washington ($129,050) and Oregon ($128,290) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an industrial engineer a good career?
Employment of industrial engineers is projected to grow 12.4% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 23,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an industrial engineer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for industrial engineers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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