# Industrial Engineers

> Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 17-2112.00
- **Summary:** Design, develop, test, and evaluate integrated systems for managing industrial production processes, including human work factors, quality control, inventory control, logistics and material flow, cost analysis, and production coordination.

## Aliases

- Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Continuous Improvement Engineer
- Facilities Engineer
- Operations Engineer
- Plant Engineer
- Quality Engineer
- Research and Development Engineer (R and D Engineer)
- District Plant Engineer
- Documentation Engineer

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control. | Core | 4.A.1.b.3.b |
| Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product. | Core | 4.A.2.a.4.e |
| Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan. | Core | 4.A.2.a.4.e |
| Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities. | Core | 4.A.4.b.6.e |
| Record or oversee recording of information to ensure currency of engineering drawings and documentation of production problems. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.i |
| Draft and design layout of equipment, materials, and workspace to illustrate maximum efficiency using drafting tools and computer. | Core | 4.A.2.b.2.o |
| Direct workers engaged in product measurement, inspection, and testing activities to ensure quality control and reliability. | Core | 4.A.4.b.4.a |
| Develop manufacturing methods, labor utilization standards, and cost analysis systems to promote efficient staff and facility utilization. | Core | 4.A.3.b.2.f |
| Review production schedules, engineering specifications, orders, and related information to obtain knowledge of manufacturing methods, procedures, and activities. | Core | 4.A.1.a.1.b |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements. | 4.A.2.a.4.e |
| Develop technical methods or processes. | 4.A.3.b.2.f |
| Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance. | 4.A.4.b.6.e |
| Determine operational methods. | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or systems. | 4.A.2.a.4.e |
| Create graphical representations of industrial production systems. | 4.A.2.b.2.o |
| Review technical documents to plan work. | 4.A.1.a.1.b |
| Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans. | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Devise research or testing protocols. | 4.A.2.b.2.s |
| Document technical design details. | 4.A.3.b.6.i |
| Supervise engineering or other technical personnel. | 4.A.4.b.4.a |
| Implement design or process improvements. | 4.A.2.b.1.i |
| Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality. | 4.A.2.a.4.e |
| Prepare procedural documents. | 4.A.3.b.6.i |
| Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications. | 4.A.3.b.6.m |
| Prepare operational reports. | 4.A.3.b.6.o |
| Schedule operational activities. | 4.A.2.b.5.b |
| Estimate operational costs. | 4.A.1.b.3.b |
| Direct quality control activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.g |
| Discuss designs or plans with clients. | 4.A.4.a.2.j |
| Communicate technical information to suppliers, contractors, or regulatory agencies. | 4.A.4.b.1.c |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 4.41 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 4.28 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 4.2 |
| Design | knowledge | 4.08 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 4 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 4 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 4 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4 |
| Written Expression | ability | 4 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 4 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 4 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.96 |
| Mathematics | knowledge | 3.89 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.88 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.88 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.77 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.62 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.62 |
| Administration and Management | knowledge | 3.45 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.42 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.38 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.38 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.38 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.34 |
| Mathematics | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Systems Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Systems Evaluation | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Fluency of Ideas | ability | 3.25 |
| Originality | ability | 3.25 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.25 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.25 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.12 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Unix Shell | Specialized Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Shell Script | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Visual Studio | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Visio | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Project | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Linux | Specialized Skill |
| Junit | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Github | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Statistical Software | Specialized Skill |
| Statgraphics | Specialized Skill |
| Promodel | Specialized Skill |
| PTC Creo Parametric | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | yes |
| SAP software | Enterprise resource planning ERP software | yes | yes |
| Structured query language SQL | Data base user interface and query software | yes | yes |
| Bentley MicroStation | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| C++ | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| Dassault Systemes SolidWorks | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| Extensible markup language XML | Enterprise application integration software | yes | no |
| GitHub | Application server software | yes | no |
| JUnit | Program testing software | yes | no |
| Linux | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Project | Project management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SharePoint | Document management software | yes | no |
| Microsoft SQL Server | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visio | Process mapping and design software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visual Basic | Development environment software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA | Development environment software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visual Studio | Development environment software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Python | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| R | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| SAS | Analytical or scientific software | yes | no |
| Shell script | Operating system software | yes | no |
| The MathWorks MATLAB | Analytical or scientific software | yes | no |
| UNIX Shell | Operating system software | yes | no |
| 3D Static Strength Prediction Program 3DSSPP | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| A mathematical programming language AMPL | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Allen Bradley PanelView | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Assembly line balancing software | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Automatic dynamic incremental nonlinear analysis ADINA | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Computer numerical control CNC software | Industrial control software | no | no |
| Dassault Systemes Abaqus | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Dassault Systemes CATIA | Computer aided design CAD software | no | no |
| Data acquisition software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Dataxiom StatMost | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Decision support software | Expert system software | no | no |
| Design of experiments DOE software | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| E-Mail | 4.93 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.88 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.66 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.6 |
| Contact With Others | 4.53 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.49 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 4.45 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.29 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.25 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 4.05 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 3.87 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.87 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.86 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Time Pressure | 3.79 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.68 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.55 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 3.48 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.43 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.41 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.36 |
| Level of Competition | 3.36 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.17 |
| Public Speaking | 3.11 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.09 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.01 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 2.88 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.86 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.75 |
| Spend Time Standing | 2.65 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 2.55 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 2.47 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 2.35 |
| Degree of Automation | 2.16 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 2.1 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 2.06 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 1.92 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 1.87 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 1.87 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 1.81 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 4
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- **Experience:** A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- **Svp Range:** (7.0 to < 8.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Bachelor's Degree | 58.62 |
| Some College Courses | 15.81 |
| Master's Degree | 11.09 |
| High School Diploma | 7.54 |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.36 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.58 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 5.6 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 5.35 |
| Dependability | work_style | 5 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 4.99 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 4.96 |
| Mathematics/Statistics | specific_interest_area | 4.65 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 4 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.51 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 3.29 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 3.29 |
| Intellectual Curiosity | work_style | 3 |
| Accounting | specific_interest_area | 2.71 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 2.7 |
| Office Work | specific_interest_area | 2.34 |
| Business Initiatives | specific_interest_area | 2.26 |
| Innovation | work_style | 2.15 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 17-3026.00 | role-17-3026-00 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 17-2112.03 | role-17-2112-03 | Manufacturing Engineers | Primary-Short |
| 11-3051.00 | role-11-3051-00 | Industrial Production Managers | Primary-Short |
| 17-2112.02 | role-17-2112-02 | Validation Engineers | Primary-Short |
| 17-2141.00 | role-17-2141-00 | Mechanical Engineers | Primary-Short |
| 13-1081.01 | role-13-1081-01 | Logistics Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 17-2199.05 | role-17-2199-05 | Mechatronics Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 17-2071.00 | role-17-2071-00 | Electrical Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 17-2131.00 | role-17-2131-00 | Materials Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 17-2112.01 | role-17-2112-01 | Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | Primary-Long |
| 17-3027.00 | role-17-3027-00 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Supplemental |
| 11-3051.01 | role-11-3051-01 | Quality Control Systems Managers | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Advanced Manufacturing | advanced-manufacturing |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Bachelor's degree

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Engineering | engineering |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | engineering-engineering-related-technologies-technicians |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 101140
- **Mean Wage:** 107900
- **Pct10Wage:** 70000
- **Pct25Wage:** 81910
- **Pct75Wage:** 127480
- **Pct90Wage:** 157140
- **Employment:** 350230
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 237030 | 100060 | 8.18 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 50290 | 106420 | 2.06 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 20150 | 101930 | 7.67 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 15770 | 115210 | 2.47 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector | 15570 | 101700 | 1.14 |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 7860 | 97440 | 0.47 |
| 541380 | 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | National industry | 4630 | 102360 | 11.96 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 3050 | 83820 | 5.17 |
| 51 | 51 | Information | Sector | 2170 | 128220 | 0.33 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 2110 | 148850 | 1.62 |
| 23 | 23 | Construction | Sector | 2000 | 96320 | 0.11 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 1380 | 92320 | 0.14 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 541380 | 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | National industry | 4630 | 11.96 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 237030 | 8.18 |
| 541330 | 541330 | Engineering Services | National industry | 20150 | 7.67 |
| 332710 | 332710 | Machine Shops | National industry | 3050 | 5.17 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 15770 | 2.47 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 50290 | 2.06 |
| 21 | 21 | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | Sector | 2110 | 1.62 |
| 221113 | 221113 | Nuclear Electric Power Generation | National industry | 120 | 1.42 |
- **Count:** 32

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.029 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | 1.13787 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 1.485018 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | 0.9050576 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 85
- **Percentile:** 91
- **Band:** High
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 80 | felten_aioe |
| 95 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 81 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | 1.13787 | 80 | High | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 1 | 95 | High | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.2532982187319553 | 81 | High | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.029
- **Percentile:** 18
- **Band:** Low
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.05263157894736842
- **Beta:** 0.5263157894736842
- **Gamma:** 1

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recommend methods for improving utilization of personnel, material, and utilities. | 0.007908499685714167 | 3.67 |
| Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status. | 0.002773110279406267 | 3.78 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 11
- **Growth Percentile:** 93
- **Direction:** Growing fast
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 25.2
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 82
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 351.1
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 389.6

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 20
- **Skills:** 54
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 102
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 797355e2ec3eab28