Industrial Engineers 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 Production Managers (81%).
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 Production Managers | 81% | $126,060 | +23% | None |
| 2 | Logistics Engineers | 79% | $82,320Pay for the broader BLS group “Logisticians” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Materials Scientists | 78% | $117,790 | +15% | None |
| 4 | Quality Control Systems Managers | 76% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 76% | $171,270Pay for the broader BLS group “Architectural and Engineering Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 6 | Biofuels Production Managers | 74% | $126,060Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Production Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Water Resource Specialists | 74% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Information Security Analysts | 73% | $129,180 | +26% | None |
| 9 | Blockchain Engineers | 72% | $116,580Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Transportation Inspectors | 72% | $92,100 | −10% | None |
Compared with Industrial Engineers, median $102,440. 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 engineers (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.
81% skill match · $126,060 · +23% pay
Management of Financial Resources · Repairing · Equipment Maintenance
79% skill match · $82,320 (broader BLS group)
Systems Analysis · Operations Analysis · Time Management
78% skill match · $117,790 · +15% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Operations Analysis · Persuasion
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Industrial Production Managers (81% skill match, median $126,060), Logistics Engineers (79% skill match, median $82,320) and Materials Scientists (78% skill match, median $117,790), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 8 pay more than industrial engineers at the median. The biggest increases: Architectural and Engineering Managers (+67%, $171,270), Medical Dosimetrists (+44%, $147,470) and Database Architects (+36%, $139,500).
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. One usually needs a graduate degree: Architectural and Engineering Managers.
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.