Industrial engineering technologists and technicians held about 64,200 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of industrial engineering technologists and technicians were as follows:
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 20% |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 14 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 10 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 7 |
| Chemical manufacturing | 6 |
Industrial engineers usually ask industrial engineering technologists and technicians to help carry out studies and draw conclusions. Consequently, these technologists and technicians typically work at the location where products are manufactured or services are provided.
Work Schedules
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians usually work a standard schedule. Most work full time.
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.
Education
High school students interested in becoming industrial engineering technologists and technicians should take courses in math, science, and drafting, where available.
Postsecondary programs in industrial engineering technology are offered at vocational–technical schools, technical institutes, and community colleges. Vocational–technical schools typically award a certificate. Community colleges programs usually lead to associate’s degrees.
Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have completed an engineering or engineering technology program accredited by ABET.
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians may choose to major in applied science, industrial technology, or industrial engineering technology. These programs may include instruction in computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing software, known as CAD/CAM.
Industrial engineering technicians typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as an industrial engineering technician, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Industrial engineering technicians should also possess the following specific qualities:
Analytical skills. Industrial engineering technicians must be able to help industrial engineers figure out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Communication skills. Industrial engineering technicians receive instructions from industrial engineers. They must be able to clearly understand and follow instructions and communicate problems to their supervisors.
Critical-thinking skills. Industrial engineering technicians must be able to help industrial engineers figure out why a certain process or operation is not working as well as it might. They must ask the right questions to identify and correct weaknesses.
Detail oriented. Industrial engineering technicians must gather and record measurements and observations needed by industrial engineers.
Math skills. Industrial engineering technicians use the principles of mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.
Observational skills. These technicians spend much of their time evaluating the performance of other people or organizations to make suggestions for improvements or corrective action. They must gather and record information without interfering with workers in their environments.
The median annual wage for industrial engineering technologists and technicians was $60,220 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,790, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,530.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for industrial engineering technologists and technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Chemical manufacturing | $61,740 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 61,010 |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 60,360 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 60,220 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 59,970 |
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians usually work standard schedules. Most work full time.
Employment of industrial engineering technologists and technicians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 6,600 openings for industrial engineering technologists and technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most 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.
Employment
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.
For more information about industrial engineering, visit
Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers
For more information about manufacturing engineering, visit
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
For information on general engineering education and career resources, visit
American Society for Engineering Education
For more information about accredited programs, visit