Industrial Engineer Career Track

Occupational Profile:

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER CAREER TRACK PROFILE

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Industrial Engineer Career Track Profile

Occupation: Industrial Engineers (17-2112)

Description of Job Duties: 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.

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Examples of Education Available: • • • •

Engineering & Technology CTAE Pathway TCSG programs, including Industrial Engineering Technology AAS programs (Atlanta Tech) Engineering Technology AAS (North Georgia TC) USG programs, including an AS in Engineering (GSU Perimeter College) and a BS in Industrial Engineering/Industrial & Systems Engineering (e.g., Georgia Tech, KSU)

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Licensing and Credential Examples: Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate, Professional Engineer (PE) License, OSHA 10/30 Hour

Why It Matters: The Industrial Engineer occupation (SOC 17‑2112) is a cornerstone of Georgia’s advanced manufacturing, logistics, and aerospace sectors, offering high demand, strong wages, and exceptional career mobility. Industrial engineers design and optimize systems that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance productivity across industries such as automotive, food processing, and supply chain operations—areas where Georgia is a national leader.

Entry into this field typically begins with a bachelor’s degree in industrial or systems engineering, available through Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, and other USG institutions. With experience and professional licensure, individuals can advance into roles such as Engineering Manager (SOC 11‑9041) or transition into specialized areas like Quality Engineer (SOC 17‑2112 specialization). Further education can lead to positions such as Operations Research Analyst (SOC 15‑2041) or even executive leadership in manufacturing and logistics. This occupation provides clear pathways for growth and plays a critical role in supporting Georgia’s competitive economy.

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Career Mobility Ladder

Career mobility is a powerful concept that illustrates how individuals can climb a structured ladder to transform an entry-level role into a high-paying professional career. This progression begins at the “Start” phase, where workers enter roles requiring minimal prior experience to build a vital technical foundation.

Leveraging high skill similarity, individuals then “Advance” into more complex positions that offer significant wage growth and increased technical responsibility. Ultimately, by choosing to “Specialize” through advanced training and experience, workers reach professional-level occupations that maximize their earning potential. This pathway highlights the value of lifelong learning and skill development, allowing workers to expand their opportunities over time without the immediate necessity of a four-year degree at the outset.

Career mobility in Georgia’s production leadership and engineering sector provides a clear path from frontline management to high-level system optimization. The journey begins as a First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers (51-1011), where experienced workers manage teams and daily output with a median annual salary of $66,260. As these supervisors gain a deep understanding of shop-floor bottlenecks and demonstrate high skill similarity to technical design roles, they can “Advance” into the role of Industrial Engineer (17-2112). This transition typically marks the shift toward a bachelor’s degree to master process improvement and data analysis, which pushes median earnings to $98,550 and offers a 90th percentile potential of over $142,000.

For those who seek the highest level of strategic oversight, the path leads to specializing as an Industrial Production Manager (11-3051). Often serving as plant managers, these professionals coordinate entire facilities, balancing budgets, safety, and long-term production targets to ensure Georgia’s manufacturing output remains competitive. In Georgia, this high-level specialization commands a median salary of $124,280, with top earners in the 90th percentile reaching $186,660. With over 40,000 combined positions projected across these three tiers in the state by 2032, this ladder highlights how merging operational leadership with engineering expertise can lead to some of the most lucrative management roles in the industrial sector.highlights how lifelong skill development can transform a starting job into a lucrative, high-demand career without the immediate need for a fouryear degree.

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Example Pathway:

Specialize: Industrial Production Managers (11-3051) • High Skill Similarity • 2024 GA Median Hourly Wage: $59.75

Advance: Industrial Engineers (17-2112) • 2024 GA Median Hourly Wage: $47.38 • 2024 GA 90th Percentile Hourly Wage: $68.32

Start: First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (51-1011) • No Bachelor’s Degree • High Skill Similarity • 2024 GA Median Hourly Wage: $31.86

• 2024 GA Median Annual Earnings: $98,550 • 2024 GA 90th Percentile Annual

• 2024 GA 90th Percentile Hourly Wage: $89.74 • 2024 GA Median Annual Earnings: $124,280 • 2024 GA 90th Percentile Annual Earnings: $186,660 • 2032 Projected GA Employment: 4,790 • 2032 Projected US Employment: 246,500

Earnings: $142,110 • 2032 Projected GA Employment: 8,880 • 2032 Projected US Employment: 389,600

• 2024 GA 90th Percentile Hourly Wage: $49.39 • 2024 GA Median Annual Earnings: $66,260 • 2024 GA 90th Percentile Annual Earnings: $102,730 • 2032 Projected GA Employment: 27,430 • 2032 Projected US Employment: 706,900

Source: Occupational Mobility Explorer, O*Net/Bureau of Labor Statistics

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High Demand Occupations: Skills Overlap

There are numerous opportunities for upward mobility specific to the Industrial engineer track. However, insights from GeorgiaLAUNCH research demonstrate there are numerous transferrable skills with other High-Demand Careers.

In terms of knowledge, there is 77% overlap with Electrical engineers.

Additionally, there is a 64% overlap with Aircraft mechanics.

Knowledge Overlap Analysis Industrial Engineers Industrial Engineers

Electrical Engineers

Machinists

Aircraft Mechanics

Lineworkers

Electricians

77%

31%

64%

33%

36%

40%

67%

31%

33%

27%

10%

43%

42%

23%

Electrical Engineers

77%

Machinists

31%

40%

Aircraft Mechanics

64%

67%

27%

Lineworkers

33%

31%

10%

42%

Electricians

36%

33%

43%

23%

30% 30%

As it pertains to skills, there is a 76% overlap in required skills for Electrical engineers. There is more than 40% overlap with Aircraft mechanics, Lineworkers, and Electricians.

Skills Overlap Analysis Industrial Engineers Industrial Engineers

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Machinists

Aircraft Mechanics

Lineworkers

Electricians

76%

35%

43%

48%

52%

33%

41%

44%

53%

40%

45%

44%

67%

62%

Electrical Engineers

76%

Machinists

35%

33%

Aircraft Mechanics

43%

41%

40%

Lineworkers

48%

44%

45%

67%

Electricians

52%

53%

44%

62%

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Electrical Engineers

72% 72%

Key Takeaway:

Industrial Engineer careers have a high projected growth rate, high earnings, and substantial opportunities for employment in a variety of industries.

While requiring a higher level of education, individuals will have great opportunity for successful careers in communities across the state.

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