Industrial engineering technologists and technicians help design and improve manufacturing processes and systems. The work is hands-on, problem-focused, and in demand across industries. You can enter this field with some college education and no four-year degree required.
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You work on the practical side of manufacturing and production. Your day involves drafting technical layouts, specifying equipment and parts, and solving problems on the job site or factory floor. You communicate with supervisors and team members to understand what needs to be built or improved. You stay current with new technologies and processes in mechanical engineering and production. You gather information, think creatively about solutions, and monitor systems to make sure they work as designed. The role bridges the gap between engineers and production workers.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $66,120 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 6,300 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You typically need some college education, which might include coursework in mechanical engineering, mathematics, design, and production processes. Look for programs that combine classroom learning with hands-on lab work. Job Zone 3 preparation means you should develop strong reading comprehension, active listening, and critical thinking skills. Mathematics and writing abilities matter too. Many people enter this field through associate degree programs or technical certificates, then learn on the job while working alongside experienced technicians and engineers.
Your path forward might be a certificate program, an associate degree, or a combination of both. Since timing and cost matter, Pathly can map the industrial engineering technologist and technician path that fits you to map out your options and build a step-by-step plan with your counselor.
You do not need a license to work as an industrial engineering technologist and technician, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are practical and hands-on, drawn to solving real problems with tools and systems. You think creatively about how things work and enjoy the technical side of manufacturing and design.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).