What a Common Career Path and Salary Expectations Look Like for an Industrial Engineer

Industrial engineers bring together people, machines, and materials to get the job done. What are the typical responsibilities of industrial engineers? What is the typical career path? This blog will help you understand the qualifications, salary, and credentialing needed to become an industrial engineer.

What Does an Industrial Engineer Do?

Industrial engineers have a varied set of tasks that keep them busy and engaged. On any given day, an industrial engineer may:

  • Create and review process workflows to improve the manufacturing process.
  • Review production schedules to look for ways to increase output.
  • Determine new ways to deliver products and services with higher efficiency.
  • Create control and risk management systems to cut costs while improving any problems with production.
  • Troubleshoot problems on a manufacturing line.
  • Design and initiate quality control standards to keep companies in compliance with safety rules.
  • Talk with clients about product specifications.
  • Work on supply chain challenges and their impact on line production.

The goal of an industrial engineer is to design the systems that make up our industrial processes. They can work in a variety of fields such as:

  • Computer or electronics manufacturing.
  • Machinery manufacturing and fabrication.
  • Metal product production.
  • Scientific and technical services.
  • Transportation equipment manufacturing.

These professionals may work in an office setting or in a manufacturing environment. Depending on where you work, the credentials needed to become an industrial engineer may vary slightly. Let’s look at the typical accreditation you’ll need to do this job.

What Credentials Do You Need to Become an Industrial Engineer?

You can count on needing an undergraduate engineering degree to enter this field. Depending on your specialty area, you may study electrical or manufacturing engineering. You may focus on mechanical engineering. Some colleges offer five-year programs that combine a BA with a master’s degree. Some combine classroom curriculum with on-the-job training. For most entry-level roles you won’t need a Professional Engineering (PE) license, but later in your career path, you may add this. The designation is a step up the ladder and allows you to supervise other engineers.

Salary Expectations for an Industrial Engineer

The average annual wage for an industrial engineer today is close to $90,000. The highest 10% in the profession make nearly $137,000 and on the low end of the spectrum, make just under $60,000. Industrial engineers in the computer and electronic product manufacturing realm along with scientific and technical services tend to make the most.

The field is a good one to enter as it is projected to grow by about 10% over the next few years. The profession of industrial engineering is also diverse, allowing you to work in a variety of settings for all kinds of companies. Industrial engineers are not generally as specialized as other types of engineering. That’s because these professionals focus on processes and reducing internal costs. This makes industrial engineers very valuable across a variety of organizational types. 

How Can I Start on a Career Path as an Industrial Engineer?

An industrial engineer does require a college education to typically break into the field. For new graduates, there is a professional resource available to help them launch a lucrative career in the field. Blackstone Talent Group is proud to represent new and existing industrial engineers by linking with the best positions for top companies in the nation. Talk with our team to get started on your industrial engineering career path today.

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