According to the National Center for O*NET Development, successful industrial engineers must understand:
Industrial engineers also rely upon specialized knowledge in the industries in which they work. An industrial engineer who works to reduce manufacturing waste, for instance, must understand manufacturing processes, materials, and equipment.
Industrial engineers’ duties depend on their respective roles and employers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), typical responsibilities in this field include:
Industrial engineers are problem-solvers at their cores, but they also must be able to discern client needs and communicate their ideas. According to the BLS, the following qualities are important in industrial engineering:
Despite their titles, many industrial engineers do not work in manufacturing. While some professionals are experts in certain industries or products, others specialize in areas like finance or human productivity—skills applicable to a myriad of fields. Industrial engineers sometimes opt to earn degrees or certifications that allow them to specialize in areas including:
Industrial engineering is one of the few engineering disciplines in which students can enter and advance in the field with bachelor’s degrees alone. Because professionals’ roles are so diverse, however, industrial engineering curricula incorporate training in mechanical, electrical, and general engineering principles, in addition to other core and major coursework. In fact, according to the BLS, some industrial engineers enter the field with bachelor’s degrees in mechanical, electrical, and other engineering disciplines. Other majors one might find include:
Regardless of the focus, prospective industrial engineers are strongly advised to seek out programs that are ABET-accredited, as this may impact one’s ability to seek professional credentialing.
| Featured Industrial Engineering Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Industrial Engineering (MS) | Visit Site |
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The BLS reports that most industrial engineers can enter the workforce with bachelor’s degrees, but earnings and employment prospects tend to improve with more education. Many employers prefer to hire and promote industrial engineers with master’s degrees, especially when paired with relevant specialization. Master’s degrees also can open doors to careers in postsecondary education and research.
Arizona State University’s online MS in industrial engineering prepares students in understanding, analyzing, and then ultimately solving problems within large organizations. The program’s faculty includes renowned and experienced professionals who have consistently received awards for teaching and research excellence.
Made up of 30 credits, this program includes coursework in information systems engineering; advanced simulating stochastic systems; web-enabled decision support systems; production systems; regression analysis; reliability engineering; design engineering experiments; applied stochastic operations research models; and applied deterministic operations research.
Admission requirements to the program include an undergraduate or a master’s degree in software engineering, computer engineering, or a related field from an accredited institution, a minimum GPA of 3.0, a completed graduate admission application, a statement of purpose, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores (waiver available), and proof of English language proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English.
The program opens up opportunities in electronic and computer product manufacturing, aerospace product manufacturing, engineering services, motor vehicle parts manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, and more for graduates.
The University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering and Computer Science offers an online master of science program in industrial engineering. Students in this program will learn to lead the way in the designing and improvement of products, processes, and systems within the services and manufacturing industries.
This flexible online program also allows students to choose one from the six available focus areas: human systems engineering/ergonomics; interactive simulation and training systems; operations research; quality systems engineering; simulation modeling and analysis; and systems engineering. With both thesis and non-thesis learning options, students in this program will graduate with the skills needed for advancing their industrial engineering careers.
Comprising 30 credits, the program includes core courses such as engineering statistics; project engineering; advanced engineering economic analysis; and systems engineering.
On successful completion of the program, graduates can take up roles such as engineering managers, industrial engineers, management engineers, operations analysts, project managers, quality control engineers, and technical professionals.
A detailed list of online industrial engineering master’s degree programs can be found here.
While it naturally follows that one would enter the field after earning a degree, employers may also prefer (or require) professional experience, even for entry-level positions. Furthermore, practical experience is a prerequisite to seeking the Professional Engineer (PE) license, which is discussed below.
Fortunately, industrial engineering programs often adapt their curricula to meet this demand. Internships and cooperative education plans offer a balance of classroom study and practical training. Students attending online industrial engineering programs can typically complete internships near their homes. Above all, prospective engineers are encouraged to seek programs with opportunities to garner hands-on experience through internships, externships, and research projects.
In fields such as civil and mechanical engineering, professional licensure can be critical for long-term advancement; in fact, professionals may need it to qualify for certain projects, particularly those receiving government funds. This isn’t necessarily the case with industrial engineers. While some companies may require employees to become licensed, they are more the exception than the rule. That said, professional licenses can demonstrate a commitment to one’s field and career that employers value.
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) license is a voluntary credential that serves primarily as a prerequisite for the more advanced Professional Engineering (PE) license. Some employers may require or prefer FE licensure before engineers assume certain duties or training opportunities, but the FE and FE-to-PE pathway is less critical in industrial and systems engineering than it is in other disciplines.
Candidates must hold an ABET- or EAC-accredited bachelor’s degree before they can sit for the six-hour FE exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Though voluntary, some industrial engineers earn Professional Engineer (PE) licenses, which are also granted by the NCEES. Professional Engineers may earn more, advance faster, and take on more responsibilities than their unlicensed peers. According to the NCEES, most states require candidates to meet the following requirements before they can sit for the 8.5-hour exam:
Professional certifications are voluntary credentials that validate certain skills and expertise. Industrial engineering certifications can be a means of specialization and advancement, as well as a demonstration of a commitment to one’s work. There is a myriad of organizations that offer certifications. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, these industrial engineering certifications are the highest in demand:
| Certification | Vendor |
|---|---|
| Certified Professional in Supply Management | Institute for Supply Management |
| Certified Supply Chain Professional | American Production and Inventory Control Society |
|
Certified Reliability Engineer Certified Quality Inspector Certified Quality Engineer Certified Master Black Belt |
American Society for Quality |
| Certified Energy Manager | Association of Energy Engineers |
| Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional | Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals |
|
Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Six Sigma Green Belt Certification |
Society for Manufacturing Engineers |
From education and experience to geography, many factors influence industrial and manufacturing engineers’ job prospects. One can, however, discern broader trends from data surrounding this subfield of the discipline.
Because industrial engineers work in so many fields and industries, their job prospects correlate with economic shifts. The BLS (May 2020) projected that positions in industrial engineering would grow 14 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is much faster than the 8 percent average expected across all U.S. occupations. Education, experience, and certifications may also give candidates an edge in the job market.
Lastly, as with their career prospects, industrial engineers’ salary potential varies dramatically. The BLS (May 2020) reported that the 290,190 industrial engineers in the U.S. earned an average salary of $93,610 (May 2020) with the following percentiles:
After graduating from UC Berkeley, Jocelyn traveled the world for five years as an English teacher and freelance writer. After stints in England, Japan, and Brazil, she settled in San Francisco and worked as a managing editor for a tech company. She’s recently become interested in the underrepr...
