Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $66,120 per year ($31.79/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.1% through 2035, with about 6,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 17-3026
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $66,120a year, or $31.79/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $47KTop 10% $99K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.1%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,60076,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202576.7K
- Projected 203579K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 76.7K Projected 2035 79K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Industrial Engineering Analyst, Industrial Engineering Technician (Industrial Engineering Tech), Industrial Technician (Industrial Tech), Manufacturing Coordinator, PLC Tech (Programmable Logic Controller Technician).
Pay
How much do Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians make?
Every industrial engineering technologist and technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$66,120
Middle half earn $55,760 to $80,280
- 10th
- $47,300
- 25th
- $55,760
- 75th
- $80,280
- 90th
- $99,150
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,300 |
| 25th | $55,760 |
| Median | $66,120 |
| 75th | $80,280 |
| 90th | $99,150 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $66,120
- Median hourly wage
- $31.79/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $70,700
- People employed
- 75,570
Versus all US occupations
At $66,120, Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn 30% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $15,140 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 36% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $99,150 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,300, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 41% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Oklahoma pays the most at $79,330, and still leads at $90,309 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oklahoma | $79,330 | $90,309 | 750 |
| 2Maryland | $79,090 | $75,353 | 490 |
| 3California | $79,070 | $71,414 | 5,710 |
| 4Washington | $78,430 | $73,290 | 1,050 |
| 5Oregon | $75,760 | $73,297 | 910 |
| 6New Jersey | $72,890 | $66,991 | 920 |
| 7Vermont | $72,410 | $73,919 | 110 |
| 8Massachusetts | $71,830 | $67,920 | 2,070 |
| 9Illinois | $71,090 | $71,120 | 2,260 |
| 10Minnesota | $70,490 | $71,476 | 5,380 |
Job outlook
Is Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | +3.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,600 openings are projected each year, 8.6% of the 76,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
An emphasis on cost control through increased efficiency, along with industrial engineering technologists and technicians' role in assisting with automation, is expected to sustain demand for these workers.
Getting in
How to become an Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians typically need an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation. Community colleges and technical institutes generally offer associate’s degree programs, and vocational–technical schools offer certificate programs.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does an Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician do?
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians help engineers solve problems affecting manufacturing layout or production. They prepare machinery and equipment plans, design workflows, conduct statistical production studies, and analyze production costs.
Day-to-day tasks
- Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance.
- Prepare production documents, such as standard operating procedures, manufacturing batch records, inventory reports, or productivity reports.
- Assist engineers in developing, building, or testing prototypes or new products, processes, or procedures.
- Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.
- Provide advice or training to other technicians.
- Oversee or inspect production processes.
- Recommend corrective or preventive actions to assure or improve product quality or reliability.
- Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians usually work a standard schedule. Most work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where industrial engineering technologists and technicians work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Transportation equipment manufacturing15%
- Computer and electronic product manufacturing15%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services11%
- Machinery manufacturing8%
- Chemical manufacturing7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 15% |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 15% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11% |
| Machinery manufacturing | 8% |
| Chemical manufacturing | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Mathematics3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Operations Analysis3.1
- Technology Design3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 |
| Technology Design | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic5.3
- Conventional5.2
- Investigative5.1
- Enterprising2.3
- Social1.4
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician
$74,510median a year
Most earn $48K to $106K
+1.3%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician
$78,190median a year
Most earn $50K to $116K
+2.4%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician
$82,890median a year
Most earn $59K to $125K
+11.9%Associate's
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with industrial engineering technologists and technicians highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician$66,120
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician | $66,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician appears on
Questions
Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians make?
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $66,120 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 30% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $31.79/hr. The middle half earn between $55,760 and $80,280. The top 10% earn $99,150 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians.
Is Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician do?
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians help engineers solve problems affecting manufacturing layout or production. A core O*NET task: adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians are Oklahoma ($79,330), Maryland ($79,090), California ($79,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician?
O*NET scores Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.