Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Also called: 3D Printing Tech (Three Dimensional Printing Technician), Additive Manufacturing Production Technician (Additive Manufacturing Production Tech), Additive Manufacturing Technician (Additive Manufacturing Tech), Analysis Tester, Boiler Water Tester, Cloth Tester, Efficiency Analyst, Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff.
What industrial engineering technologists and technicians do
Typical tasks
- Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance.
- Oversee or inspect production processes.
- Identify opportunities for improvements in quality, cost, or efficiency of automation equipment.
- Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.
- Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
- Create or interpret engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, formulas, or blueprints for management or engineering staff.
- Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
- Recommend corrective or preventive actions to assure or improve product quality or reliability.
- Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications.
- Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance.
- Select material quantities or processing methods needed to achieve efficient production.
- Monitor and adjust production processes or equipment for quality and productivity.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary
The median annual wage for industrial engineering technologists and technicians is $66,120 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $47,300 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $99,150. The mean annual wage is $70,700.
The mean hourly wage of $33.00 is 4.6× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $66,120 → in 3 years $71,600 → in 5 years $75,500 → in 10 years $86,200 (10-year range $74,100–$100,100). The model assumes pay growth of +2.7% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 3 — medium preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become industrial engineering technologists and technicians
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as industrial engineering technologists and technicians
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.