Industrial Engineer

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Work Tasks

• Decide the best ways to use people, machines, and materials to make a product
• Study the product and what is needed to make it
• Make sure the company is making as many products as it can at the lowest cost possible while keeping the quality good
• Find locations which have the raw materials, transportation, and lowest costs needed to make the product
• Work for manufacturing plants, insurance firms, banks, the government, hospitals, colleges, construction, mining, and utility companies, and themselves
• Work with computers, testing equipment, graphs, statistics, reports, drawings, photographs, and machinery

Salary, Size & Growth

• $79,000 average per year ($38.00 per hour)
• A large occupation (203,000 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.4% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in engineering, physical science, or math
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree in industrial engineering
• Skills/Courses: College courses include math, sciences, English, social studies, production engineering, work management, work measurement, labor and industry, plant layout, cost analysis, and statistics.
• Certification/Licensing: A license may be needed. Certifications are available in specialty areas.