Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians build complex problem solving, systems analysis and systems evaluation skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Industrial Engineers (84%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial Engineers | 84% | $102,440 | +55% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Manufacturing Engineers | 84% | $102,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineers | 79% | $104,110 | +57% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Materials Engineers | 78% | $112,860 | +71% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Electrical Engineers | 78% | $120,630 | +82% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Validation Engineers | 78% | $102,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Mechatronics Engineers | 76% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 76% | $130,220 | +97% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Chemical Engineers | 75% | $125,040 | +89% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Aerospace Engineers | 73% | $134,960 | +104% | Bachelor's degree |
Compared with Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians, median $66,120. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as industrial engineering technologists and technicians (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
84% skill match · $102,440 · +55% pay
Complex Problem Solving · Management of Personnel Resources · Service Orientation
84% skill match · $102,440 (broader BLS group)
Installation · Troubleshooting · Operations Monitoring
79% skill match · $104,110 · +57% pay
Installation · Troubleshooting · Operation and Control
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Industrial Engineers (84% skill match, median $102,440), Manufacturing Engineers (84% skill match, median $102,440) and Mechanical Engineers (79% skill match, median $104,110), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 12 pay more than industrial engineering technologists and technicians at the median. The biggest increases: Computer Hardware Engineers (+145%, $161,740), Aerospace Engineers (+104%, $134,960) and Nuclear Engineers (+103%, $133,970).
3 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.