Industrial Engineers in North Carolina
Thinking about a career as an Industrial Engineers in North Carolina? Below are the key facts. Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination. Excludes “Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors” (17-2111).
What do Industrial Engineers Make in North Carolina?
For industrial engineers working in North Carolina, the median annual wage is $97,150 per year (or roughly $46.71/hour).Annual wages span from $66,460 at the 10th percentile to $134,360 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,460 | $31.95 |
| 25th percentile | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| Median (50th) | $97,150 | $46.71 |
| 75th percentile | $115,970 | $55.76 |
| 90th percentile | $134,360 | $64.60 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in North Carolina nationwide is 1.04.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, industrial engineers earn a median of $120,863 per year ($58.11/hour), lower than the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 199,768 industrial engineers across the United States. In North Carolina alone, about 11,620 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 4,950 industrial engineers.
Top North Carolina Metros for Industrial Engineers
The largest metro-area employers of industrial engineers in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,640 | $102,110 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,660 | $101,880 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,110 | $104,230 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1,080 | $89,360 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 720 | $93,030 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 650 | $80,560 |
| Asheville, NC | 480 | $97,670 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 470 | $93,100 |
| Wilmington, NC | 320 | $101,800 |
| Greenville, NC | 280 | $93,900 |
| Burlington, NC | 190 | $84,690 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 140 | $95,710 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 50 | $75,430 |
Top States for Industrial Engineers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most industrial engineers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 31,850 |
| Texas | 29,620 |
| California | 25,830 |
| Ohio | 22,310 |
| Minnesota | 18,000 |
| Illinois | 16,590 |
| Florida | 15,310 |
| Wisconsin | 12,660 |
| New York | 12,640 |
| Pennsylvania | 12,550 |
| North Carolina | 11,620 |
| Indiana | 10,990 |
| Massachusetts | 10,650 |
| Alabama | 8,040 |
| Georgia | 7,410 |
| Arizona | 7,320 |
| South Carolina | 7,270 |
| Tennessee | 7,200 |
| Washington | 6,800 |
| New Jersey | 6,280 |
Highest-Paying States for Industrial Engineers
These states pay the most for industrial engineers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $142,980 |
| Louisiana | $126,960 |
| Oregon | $124,560 |
| California | $123,070 |
| Wyoming | $122,540 |
| Washington | $119,670 |
| New Mexico | $119,390 |
| District of Columbia | $118,960 |
| Delaware | $118,670 |
| Idaho | $112,490 |
Skills
Top industrial engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for industrial engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Industrial Engineers typically:
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
- Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
- Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
- Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
- Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
- Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities.
- Record or oversee recording of information to ensure currency of engineering drawings and documentation of production problems.
- Draft and design layout of equipment, materials, and workspace to illustrate maximum efficiency using drafting tools and computer.
- Direct workers engaged in product measurement, inspection, and testing activities to ensure quality control and reliability.
- Develop manufacturing methods, labor utilization standards, and cost analysis systems to promote efficient staff and facility utilization.
- Review production schedules, engineering specifications, orders, and related information to obtain knowledge of manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities.
Work Activities
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Working with Computers
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Thinking Creatively
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Processing Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, Bentley MicroStation, C++, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks In-demand technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Industrial Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Engineering-Related Fields
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like industrial engineers include:
- Industrial Production Managers
- Quality Control Systems Managers
- Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Logistics Engineers
- Project Management Specialists
- Electrical Engineers
Also Known As
Continuous Improvement Engineer, District Plant Engineer, Documentation Engineer, Efficiency Analyst, Efficiency Engineer, Efficiency Expert, Engineer, Engineering Inspector, Facilities Engineer, Factory Engineer, Factory Expert, Factory Lay Out Engineer, Factory Lay-Out Engineer, Field Engineer, Industrial Engineer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 17-2112.00