Industrial Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Industrial Engineering is a dynamic, systems-oriented discipline focused on optimizing complex processes and operations across industries. It equips professionals to design, analyze, and enhance integrated systems that combine people, materials, information, and energy to achieve greater efficiency, productivity, and quality.
- Applied Mathematics: Utilizes quantitative methods such as calculus, statistics, and optimization to model and solve real-world operational challenges.
- Physical Sciences: Applies principles from physics and chemistry to understand material behavior, energy transfer, and system performance under physical constraints.
- Social Sciences: Incorporates insights from psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior to improve human-system interactions and workplace dynamics.
- Engineering Analysis: Employs analytical techniques to evaluate system performance, identify bottlenecks, and support data-driven decision-making.
- Systems Design: Focuses on the holistic planning and development of integrated systems that balance cost, time, quality, and sustainability.
- Computer Applications: Leverages software tools, simulation models, and digital technologies to model, test, and manage complex systems in real-time environments.
- Forecasting and Evaluation Methodology: Uses predictive analytics and performance measurement frameworks to anticipate future demands and assess system effectiveness.
Industrial Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Industrial Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Industrial Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Industrial Production Managers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 834,860 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Industrial Production Managers 11-3051 | $121,440 | $74,900 - $197,310 | 234,380 | $58.39 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
| Industrial Engineers 17-2112 | $101,140 | $70,000 - $157,140 | 350,230 | $48.63 |
Industrial Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $109,160 in Florida to $145,795 in California—a 34% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 834,860 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Industrial Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Industrial Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Industrial Engineering is found at Texas A & M University, College Station (618 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (418 graduates), Clemson University (397 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (366 graduates), and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (296 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 8,328 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
618 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
418 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
397 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
366 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
296 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
250 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
197 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
195 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
188 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
180 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
174 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
161 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
156 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
153 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
152 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
142 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
137 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
135 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
132 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
125 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
118 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
101 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
96 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
96 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
96 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Other)
|
89 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
89 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
76 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Southern Illinois University (SIUE) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | Edwardsville, Illinois | Public | siue.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
73 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
70 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
68 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
67 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
66 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
64 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
63 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
54 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
54 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
49 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
48 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
47 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | pupr.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
42 | Rapid City, South Dakota | Public | sdsmt.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
40 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Master's
|
37 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
Other Award
|
33 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | famu.edu |
| Lawrence Technological University (LTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Southfield, Michigan | Private | ltu.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | msoe.edu |
| Kettering University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Flint, Michigan | Private | kettering.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Public | behrend.psu.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | bayamon.inter.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| SUNY Maritime College |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Throggs Neck, New York | Public | sunymaritime.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Western New England University (WNE) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | wne.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Indiana Institute of Technology |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
15 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | cps.indianatech.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
14 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Industrial Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Industrial Engineering degree?
Salaries for Industrial Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Industrial Production Managers earn around $121,440. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $145,795 compared to $109,160 in Florida. Approximately 834,860 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Industrial Engineering programs?
Currently 135 accredited institutions offer Industrial Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Texas A & M University, College Station (618 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (418 graduates), and Clemson University (397 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Industrial Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,467 in 2010 to a peak of 9,445 in 2020, before declining slightly to 8,533 in 2023-24. This represents a 56% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Industrial Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Industrial Production Managers, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 834,860 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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