Occupations · Architecture and Engineering
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 17-3026.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 55% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $68,600 | 4,400 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $65,840 | 2,700 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $75,090 | 1,690 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $74,330 | 1,660 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $74,290 | 1,520 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $77,400 | 1,450 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,540 | 1,310 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | $61,020 | 1,250 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76,940 | 1,230 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $66,850 | 1,170 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $66,870 | 1,150 |
| Reno, NV | $59,740 | 880 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Associate's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
- Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
- Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
- Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications.
- Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance.
- Evaluate industrial operations for compliance with permits or regulations related to the generation, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposal of hazardous materials or waste.
- Aid in planning work assignments in accordance with worker performance, machine capacity, production schedules, or anticipated delays.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2014-07
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2014-07
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Create engineering drawings, schematics or blueprints.
O*NET 25.0 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 3 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 88
No longer listed 5
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| industrial engineering technician | 3119.8 | exact |
| industrial engineer | 2141.3 | close |
| product development engineering technician | 3119.14 | broader |
| process engineering technician | 3119.13 | broader |
| leather goods industrial engineer | 2141.4 | broader |
| production engineering technician | 3115.1.15 | broader |
| textile technologist | 2141.10 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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