Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
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.
- Median pay
- $66,120
- Doing it now
- 76,700
- By 2035
- Up 3.1%
- Usually needs
- Associate's degree
a year
across the country
6,600 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
- Aid in planning work assignments in accordance with worker performance, machine capacity, production schedules, or anticipated delays.
- Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications.
- Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
- Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
- Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansSee 126 colleges that teach it
- Engineering Technologies/Technicians, GeneralSee 74 colleges that teach it
- Engineering-Related FieldsSee 89 colleges that teach it
- Quality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansSee 31 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Hands-on and practical
Organised and precise
Analytical and curious
Careers like this one
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$82,890
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists$78,350
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,950
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$73,900
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $66,120 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.