Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Also called: Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Industrial Engineering Analyst, Industrial Engineering Technician (Industrial Engineering Tech), Industrial Technician (Industrial Tech)Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 17 of its 30 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 3.1% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
BLS figures cover the broader occupation “Industrial engineering technologists and technicians”, which includes this one and others.
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.6% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 59% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,510 | $50,560 to $77,790 | 1,010 |
| Arizona | $66,040 | $57,230 to $82,870 | 2,080 |
| Arkansas | $62,210 | $56,910 to $81,930 | 330 |
| California | $79,070 | $62,290 to $96,460 | 5,710 |
| Colorado | $66,850 | $60,020 to $81,850 | 930 |
| Connecticut | $69,260 | $61,170 to $82,210 | 670 |
| Florida | $61,350 | $47,260 to $75,260 | 3,110 |
| Georgia | $65,060 | $55,650 to $80,690 | 1,840 |
| Idaho | $63,150 | $54,680 to $81,380 | 300 |
| Illinois | $71,090 | $57,620 to $81,240 | 2,260 |
| Indiana | $63,110 | $49,140 to $77,740 | 2,560 |
| Iowa | $64,410 | $58,250 to $77,430 | 710 |
| Kansas | $61,000 | $49,420 to $69,050 | 570 |
| Kentucky | $61,140 | $50,840 to $74,450 | 1,330 |
| Louisiana | not published | not published | 820 |
| Maine | $63,070 | $60,320 to $84,260 | 310 |
| Maryland | $79,090 | $63,090 to $99,330 | 490 |
| Massachusetts | $71,830 | $59,400 to $79,950 | 2,070 |
| Michigan | $64,510 | $56,600 to $80,190 | 5,410 |
| Minnesota | $70,490 | $60,270 to $80,390 | 5,380 |
| Mississippi | $50,180 | $40,220 to $74,380 | not published |
| Missouri | $62,440 | $52,450 to $83,790 | 1,220 |
| Montana | $60,330 | $50,140 to $77,940 | 90 |
| Nebraska | $59,970 | $49,240 to $70,620 | 240 |
| Nevada | $61,470 | $60,890 to $76,520 | 990 |
| New Hampshire | $69,650 | $60,190 to $80,150 | 620 |
| New Jersey | $72,890 | $59,320 to $95,520 | 920 |
| New Mexico | $61,280 | $61,140 to $77,830 | 480 |
| New York | $70,290 | $58,980 to $78,100 | 4,090 |
| North Carolina | $69,720 | $57,320 to $84,340 | 1,940 |
| North Dakota | $64,060 | $55,650 to $78,240 | 100 |
| Ohio | $65,490 | $53,660 to $77,600 | 5,340 |
| Oklahoma | $79,330 | $61,170 to $88,900 | 750 |
| Oregon | $75,760 | $61,350 to $79,980 | 910 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,260 | $53,090 to $79,310 | 1,790 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,470 | $38,470 to $52,640 | 1,000 |
| Rhode Island | $59,420 | $49,850 to $77,970 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $70,080 | $56,840 to $79,540 | 2,400 |
| South Dakota | $54,570 | $49,810 to $63,280 | 310 |
| Tennessee | $58,070 | $48,760 to $72,230 | 2,650 |
| Texas | $62,020 | $49,010 to $80,070 | 5,060 |
| Utah | $67,490 | $61,580 to $85,450 | 1,400 |
| Vermont | $72,410 | $63,290 to $85,320 | 110 |
| Virginia | $66,310 | $58,610 to $79,180 | 1,270 |
| Washington | $78,430 | $61,810 to $116,210 | 1,050 |
| West Virginia | $57,240 | $44,150 to $70,330 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $65,270 | $54,670 to $76,100 | 2,660 |
Nationally: $66,120. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 17 of its 30 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality. | Not published |
| Not much | Assist engineers in developing, building, or testing prototypes or new products, processes, or procedures. | Not published |
| Not much | Oversee or inspect production processes. | Not published |
| AI alone | Recommend corrective or preventive actions to assure or improve product quality or reliability. | 0.03% |
| AI + software | Create or interpret engineering drawings, schematic diagrams, formulas, or blueprints for management or engineering staff. | 0.07% |
See all 30 tasks
| AI alone | Prepare production documents, such as standard operating procedures, manufacturing batch records, inventory reports, or productivity reports. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Provide advice or training to other technicians. | Not published |
| AI + software | Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency. | Not published |
| Not much | Monitor and adjust production processes or equipment for quality and productivity. | Not published |
| AI alone | Select material quantities or processing methods needed to achieve efficient production. | Not published |
| Not much | Identify opportunities for improvements in quality, cost, or efficiency of automation equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products. | Not published |
| Not much | Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications. | Not published |
| AI alone | Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare layouts, drawings, or sketches of machinery or equipment, such as shop tooling, scale layouts, or new equipment design, using drafting equipment or computer-aided design (CAD) software. | Not published |
| AI + software | Analyze, estimate, or report production costs. | 0.03% |
| Not much | Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance. | Not published |
| Not much | Coordinate equipment purchases, installations, or transfers. | Not published |
| Not much | Select cleaning materials, tools, or equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up and operate production equipment in accordance with current good manufacturing practices and standard operating procedures. | Not published |
| Not much | Oversee equipment start-up, characterization, qualification, or release. | Not published |
| Not much | Calibrate or adjust equipment to ensure quality production, using tools such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, protractors, or ring gauges. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop manufacturing infrastructure to integrate or deploy new manufacturing processes. | Not published |
| AI + software | Aid in planning work assignments in accordance with worker performance, machine capacity, production schedules, or anticipated delays. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable and nonsustainable designs. | Not published |
| Not much | Evaluate industrial operations for compliance with permits or regulations related to the generation, storage, treatment, transportation, or disposal of hazardous materials or waste. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop production, inventory, or quality assurance programs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design plant layouts or production facilities. | Not published |
| AI + software | Develop sustainable manufacturing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize raw material use, replace toxic materials with non-toxic materials, replace non-renewable materials with renewable materials, or reduce waste. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 5 of the 30 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 30 tasks fall under 26 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #7 Explain technical details of products or services
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #15 Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies
- and 5 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Develop operational or technical procedures or standards | |||
| Design industrial systems or equipment | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Select materials or equipment for operations or projects | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards |
Show all 26 activities
| Explain technical details of products or services | |||
| Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies | |||
| Implement procedures or processes | |||
| Research technology designs or applications | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Plan work activities | |||
| Develop models of systems, processes, or products | |||
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities | |||
| Test characteristics of materials or products | |||
| Monitor environmental conditions | |||
| Manage control systems or activities | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Design structures or facilities | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Operate industrial processing or production equipment |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An explanation or answer26%
- A chart or visualization15%
- A document or report13%
- An analysis or summary8%
- A plan or strategy7%
How they worked with Claude
49% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for industrial engineering technologists and technicians specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 75,894 moves out
- 1 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 8%
- 2 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 6%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 5 Electricians Moderate +9.2% 2%
Where people moved in from
of 80,349 moves in
- 1 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 7%
- 2 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 4%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 3%
- 5 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 25% high school
- 30% some college
- 18% associate's
- 18% bachelor's
- 4% master's
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters” · 4,846 people surveyed.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Other engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters”
8 programs, such as Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Industrial Technology/Technician and Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician.
See all
- Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- Industrial Technology/Technician
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
- Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other
- Industrial Safety Technology/Technician
- Process Safety Technology/Technician
- Engineering/Industrial Management
- Packaging Science
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
2.1% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | <0.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 7 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/17-3026.00