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What Can You Do With an Industrial Engineering Degree?

An industrial engineering degree prepares you to improve how organizations work. Use data, systems thinking, and people-focused design to reduce waste, boost quality, cut costs, and make processes safer across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and tech.

An In-Demand and High-Paying Path

Industrial engineering is the engineering of efficiency. This concept is extremely relevant to a variety of industries, as all businesses and non-profits want to improve. Optimize patient flows in hospitals, create safer workplaces, streamline supply chains, reduce waste, and build sustainable processes. With median salaries of $101,140, you can join a lucrative and growing field where you can make a difference.

At Willamette, our industrial engineering major evaluates strategies to improve people’s daily lives. Our students develop problem-solving and communication skills, exploring the connection with subjects such as statistics, engineering, math, data science, and computer science. Build both technical and soft skills that employers across industries value through courses related to production systems planning and manufacturing systems design.

What Do Industrial Engineers Do?

Industrial engineers use data, math, and human-centered problem-solving to make systems and processes work better. They reduce cost, improve efficiency, and enhance workflows, layouts, automation, quality control, and sustainability across industries. Whether optimizing manufacturing or prioritizing safety and people-focused needs, industrial engineers analyze performance, recommend improvements, and measure results.

A person peeking through a structure that was built by students with boxes

Skills Industrial Engineers Need

Students develop a wide range of abilities, ranging from soft skills to technical skills. Expect to learn and grow competency in these areas:

  • Technical Skills

    • Systems Analysis. Understand systems and identify ways to improve them.
    • Process Improvement and Systems Design. Design processes to reduce waste and increase productivity.
    • Data Analytics. Use data, statistics, and simulation to evaluate performance, quality, and reliability.
    • Automation. Apply automation, AI, and smart manufacturing tools to streamline operations.
    • Tools. Use software, simulation platforms, and supply chain tools to analyze and design systems.
    • Mathematical Modeling. Apply calculus and statistics to analyze, predict, and solve problems.

  • Analytical Skills

    • Critical Thinking. Evaluate multiple solutions and select the most effective approach.
    • Problem Solving. Identify system failures and develop solutions.
    • Decision Making. Use information to make informed trade-offs.
    • Creativity. Design new processes, layouts, or service systems.

  • Human-Centered Skills

    • Communication. Translate complex information clearly for diverse audiences.
    • Teamwork. Collaborate with teams across an organization to implement improvements.
    • Project Management. Plan, coordinate, and manage projects.
    • Management. Drive improvements in efficiency, quality, and safety, and develop skills in organizational change management.

What Jobs Can You Get With an Industrial Engineering Degree?

From data analysis and operations to automation, safety, and sustainability, an industrial engineering degree opens the door to a wide range of career paths. Three common paths include:

  • Industrial Engineer

    • 2024 Median Salary: $101,140
    • 2024-2034 Job Growth: 11% (above average)
    • Role: They design and improve systems, processes, and workflows to make organizations run more effectively.

  • Quality Engineer

    • 2024 Median Salary: $131,450
    • 2024-2034 Job Growth: 15% (above average)
    • Role: They ensure products and processes meet standards, improve efficiency, and maintain reliability.

  • Operations Research Analyst

    • 2024 Median Salary: $91,290
    • 2024-2034 Job Growth: 21% (above average)
    • Role: They use data, modeling, and analytics to solve complex problems and optimize processes.

Many people wonder how much industrial engineers make. It depends on the industry, your education and certifications, and also your specific job title within the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary was $101,140 for industrial engineers. However, each path looks different.

Explore relevant categories to learn more about job titles and roles:

Roles focused on system design, optimization, and process improvement.

  • Industrial Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • Manufacturing Engineer
  • Operations Research Analyst
  • Consulting / Systems Engineer
  • Validation Engineer
  • Energy Efficiency Engineer

Hands-on roles in factories or production systems.

  • Manufacturing Production Supervisor
  • Quality Engineer / Quality Assurance Inspector
  • Plant Engineer

Roles focused on moving products and optimizing operations.

  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Supply Chain Engineer
  • Logistics Engineer
  • Operations Analyst

Roles focused on product design, ergonomics, or human-centered processes.

  • Industrial Designer
  • Ergonomics / Human Factors Engineer

Supervisory and strategic roles in operations, facilities, or quality.

  • Director of Operations
  • Director of Quality Assurance
  • Director of Facilities Management
  • Agile Project Manager
  • Management Analyst
  • Project Engineer

Roles focused on workplace safety and regulatory compliance.

  • Occupational Health and Safety Manager
  • Health and Safety Engineer

Roles that leverage skills related to industrial engineering.

  • Cost Estimator
  • Sales Engineer
  • Financial Analyst
  • Business Systems Specialist
  • Professor
  • Mechanical Designer
  • Mechanical Engineer
*All data is sourced from the BLS (2024). Keep in mind that some roles and positions may require additional training or education. Speak to an advisor to learn more about your specific career path and certification or education requirements.

Where Do Industrial Engineers Work?

Industrial engineers work anywhere complex systems exist. Common industries include manufacturing, healthcare, transportation and logistics, utilities, retail and e-commerce, and consulting.

In manufacturing, industrial engineers optimize assembly lines and implement quality controls. In healthcare, they provide better patient care by managing resources more effectively. They improve supply chains with efficient transportation, implement sustainable practices within utility companies, and implement automation in the technology sector. In businesses, they advise on process improvements, reduce costs, and streamline orders.

A professor chatting with two students and reviewing work on a laptop

Is Industrial Engineering a Good Major?

Industrial engineering is a great choice for students who enjoy improving systems and processes. If you’re interested in math and working with people, this degree opens the door to many career options. Because the objectives of industrial engineering focus on increasing productivity, quality, and safety while eliminating waste and costs, the goals are transferable across industries. It can lead to lucrative careers and in-demand jobs.

A professor giving a lecture in a concrete and industrial classroom

Is Industrial Engineering a Good Career?

Absolutely! According to the BLS, jobs are expected to grow 2024-2034 at an 11% rate, which is much faster than average. The 2024 median pay is also $101,140 per year, only requiring a bachelor's degree. With high demand in an evolving field, industrial engineering is a great fit for those who enjoy math, logistics, and efficiency.

Two students collaborating and working on a piece of paper together

Is Industrial Engineering Worth It?

With in-demand career paths and flexibility across a variety of industries, industrial engineering is a great choice. Students typically combine STEM with business, learning valuable skills that adapt to changing industries. As a newer field, students get to help improve, streamline, and develop systems. Not only is industrial engineering lucrative, but it also offers personal benefits.

A student looking at a whiteboard with math equations

Certifications and Graduate Degrees

If you've decided what field you're interested in, you can consider any relevant certificates or graduate programs. While most industrial engineering roles only require a bachelor's degree, some specialized roles do require additional education. Consider pursuing options such as:

  • Graduate Degrees

    • MS / PhD in Industrial Engineering
    • MS in Systems Engineering
    • MS/PhD in Operations Research
    • MS in Engineering Management
    • MS in Supply Chain Management
    • MS in Data Science
    • MS in Manufacturing Engineering
    • MBA

  • Certifications/Professional Credentials

    • Six Sigma (Green Belt / Black Belt)
    • Lean (Lean Practitioner / Lean Leader)
    • FE (Fundamentals of Engineering)
    • PMP (Project Management Professional)
    • APICS CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management)
    • APICS CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
    • Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
    • ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
“Willamette taught me that everything is a group project. That’s how problems get solved. It’s not one genius sitting in a room as much as everyone likes to think it is. It’s 20 people all staring at a blackboard or computer screen trying to figure out what to do next.”
Jadrian Teunissen ’21

Why Choose Willamette for Industrial Engineering?

At Willamette, industrial engineering pairs the rigor of STEM with the perspective of a liberal arts education. You’ll graduate with technical expertise and the communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills employers look for and that are part of a modern professional skill set.

Academics at Willamette
Majors and Minors

Hands-on learning matters in industrial engineering because the work is applied. At Willamette, students can take advantage of opportunities typically only found at the graduate level. Present at conferences, publish your work in journals, or conduct projects alongside faculty members. Through small class sizes, students can get to know their professors individually, paving the way to personalized career guidance and letters of recommendation.

Students are also encouraged to study abroad during their undergraduate experience. This benefits industrial engineers by showcasing how other societies function. On campus, students get to take pivotal courses such as:

  • Statistical Engineering
  • Fundamentals of Data Engineering
Study Abroad

Students can use professional-grade technology in the iScience Lab and Biomechanics Lab to conduct research. Students can also connect with other like-minded peers through clubs and organizations around campus. Relevant clubs include:

  • Associated Students of Willamette University
  • Computer Science Students Association
  • Physics Club
  • Video Game Club
  • Willamette Events Board
Student Clubs
Facilities

The Office of Career Development can connect you with resources such as job boards, internships, networking events, and mock interviews to help you prepare for life after graduation. Our advisors have a deep understanding of related industries and can help you explore career paths in your favorite fields. Schedule one-on-one appointments or schedule a resume workshop. No matter what you need, our career center can help guide you in the right direction.

Career Development

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Willamette University

Industrial Engineering

  • Salem Campus

    Address

    900 State Street
    Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.

    Contact

    503-370-6196