SOC 17-2112 · May 2025
Industrial Engineer Salary
Industrial Engineers in the US earn a median of $102,440 a year ($52.84 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Industrial Engineer pay climbed from $92,660 in 2019 to $109,900 in 2025, a +18.6% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$102,440
Half of all Industrial Engineers in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+18.6% since 2019 · +1.9% YoY
Hourly
$52.84
Job growth 2025-35
+12.4%
US workers
365,740
BLS series
Annual median wage for Industrial Engineers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Industrial Engineers is $74,370 – $159,860.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$74,370
25th
$83,600
Median
$102,440
75th
$129,250
90th
$159,860
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Industrial Engineers. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $74,370 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $83,600 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $102,440 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $129,250 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $159,860 |
Geography
Industrial Engineer pay by state
Industrial Engineers earn the most in Alaska ($156,510, +53% against the national median) and the least in South Dakota ($93,200). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$102,440
Highest-paying states for industrial engineers
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 | +53% | 220 |
| Washington | $129,050 | +26% | 6,130 |
| Oregon | $128,290 | +25% | 5,810 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 | +25% | 1,140 |
| California | $124,600 | +22% | 32,680 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 | +21% | 50 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 | +20% | 1,710 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 | +19% | 240 |
| Delaware | $120,190 | +17% | 820 |
| Maryland | $119,930 | +17% | 3,900 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | 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 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Industrial Engineers
Industrial engineers design and improve integrated systems of people, materials, equipment, and energy to optimize productivity. The role spans manufacturing process engineering, operations research, supply chain optimization, and facility planning. Pay varies by industry: semiconductors, aerospace, and pharmaceutical manufacturing pay above the OEWS median, while consumer goods and traditional manufacturing fall near it. A PE license or Six Sigma Black Belt often unlocks senior roles.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $74,370 – $159,860. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Pay in Alaska runs 1.7 times the level in South Dakota, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 23,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 12.4% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Industrial Engineer salary in the US?
How much does a Industrial Engineer make an hour?
How much do Industrial Engineers make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Industrial Engineers the most?
Is the average Industrial Engineer salary higher than the median?
Is Industrial Engineer a growing career?
Open positions
Open Industrial Engineer roles hiring now
Browse current Industrial Engineer listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 17-2112. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.