Industrial engineers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Industrial engineers in the United States earn a median salary of $102,440 per year — about $49 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 351K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +11%.
AI & Automation Risk
Industrial engineering is heavily focused on data analysis, systems design, and process optimization—tasks where AI and machine learning excel. While the role requires physical site visits and human collaboration to understand workflows, the core work product is digital analysis and modeling, making the occupation highly susceptible to significant productivity gains and restructuring through AI-driven automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AKBEST VALUE | $171,910 | Above avg (105.4) | $163,072 |
| Charleston, WV | $143,860 | Below avg (88.7) | $162,156 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $128,690 | Below avg (85.1) | $151,217 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $129,260 | Below avg (85.9) | $150,561 |
| Billings, MT | $139,420 | Below avg (93.5) | $149,071 |
| Midland, TX | $141,120 | Below avg (95.8) | $147,333 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | Below avg (90.8) | $142,653 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $139,600 | Average (100.8) | $138,547 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | Below avg (95.5) | $138,457 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $127,340 | Below avg (92.6) | $137,521 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $123,660 | Below avg (90.0) | $137,330 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $126,090 | Below avg (92.7) | $135,981 |
| Lafayette, LA | $117,120 | Below avg (87.2) | $134,298 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $122,470 | Below avg (92.7) | $132,156 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $131,870 | Average (101.1) | $130,399 |