Industrial Engineering
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Types of Degrees Industrial Engineering Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many industrial engineering graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 2,861 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 323 |
| Graduate Certificate | 175 |
What Industrial Engineering Majors Need to Know
In an O*NET survey, IE majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.
Knowledge Areas for IE Majors
IE majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Skills for IE Majors
IE majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Abilities for IE Majors
A major in IE will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
What Can You Do With a Industrial Engineering Major?
People with a IE degree often go into the following careers:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 5.5% | $140,760 |
| Engineering Professors | 14.7% | $101,720 |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | 9.7% | $87,040 |
| Industrial Engineers | 9.7% | $87,040 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of IE majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 117 |
| Black or African American | 63 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 129 |
| White | 453 |
| International Students | 2,048 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 51 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in IE, too. About 71.6% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- India
- China
- Saudi Arabia
- Iran
- Turkey
How Much Do Industrial Engineering Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The U.S. Department of Education found that students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a master’s degree in industrial engineering made a median starting salary of $73,550 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $68,725 (25th percentile) and $82,650 (75th percentile).
One thing to note here is that not all of these people may be working in careers related to IE.
Salaries According to BLS
Average salaries range from $91,630 to $113,680 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to IE. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Industrial Engineering
Some degrees associated with IE may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to IE have obtained the following education levels.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 0.1% |
| High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 5.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 6.3% |
| Some College Courses | 11.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 10.9% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 42.7% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 4.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 11.8% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. | 1.7% |
| Doctoral Degree | 3.6% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 1.0% |
Online Industrial Engineering Programs
In 2018-2019, 147 schools offered a IE program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
| Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 6 | 1 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 3 | 0 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
| Associate’s Degree | 9 | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 13 | 4 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 6 | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 92 | 29 |
| Post-Master’s | 4 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 53 | 3 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 1 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Industrial Engineering Worth It?
The median salary for a IE grad is $113,370 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 184% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,469,400 after 20 years!
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Majors Related to Industrial Engineering
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to IE.
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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