Jobs Similar to Industrial Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to industrial engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Validation Engineers, Energy Engineers and Wind Energy Engineers.
Industrial Engineers: $102,440 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Industrial Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Validation EngineersSame group | 82% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Energy Engineers, Except Wind and SolarSame group | 82% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 81% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 81% | $104,110+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Materials EngineersSame group | 80% | $112,860+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 80% | $134,960+32% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 80% | $64,950−37% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety EngineersSame group | 80% | $106,220+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 79% | $125,040+22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 79% | $66,120−35% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Mechatronics EngineersSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsSame group | 79% | $115,160+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 79% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 78% | $120,630+18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 78% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Logistics Engineers | 78% | $82,320Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Petroleum EngineersSame group | 78% | $144,910+41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Materials Scientists | 78% | $117,790+15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Solar Energy Systems EngineersSame group | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Validation Engineers
82% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
82% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Wind Energy Engineers
81% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Mechanical Engineers
81% similar · $104,110 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Materials Engineers
80% similar · $112,860 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Aerospace Engineers
80% similar · $134,960 (+32%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
80% similar · $64,950 (−37%) · Training or associate
- 8Microsystems Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
80% similar · $106,220 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Chemical Engineers
79% similar · $125,040 (+22%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
79% similar · $66,120 (−35%) · Training or associate
- 12Mechatronics Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
79% similar · $115,160 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Automotive Engineers
79% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Electrical Engineers
78% similar · $120,630 (+18%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Water/Wastewater Engineers
78% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Logistics Engineers
78% similar · $82,320 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Petroleum Engineers
78% similar · $144,910 (+41%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Materials Scientists
78% similar · $117,790 (+15%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Solar Energy Systems Engineers
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than industrial engineers.
- Petroleum Engineers78% similar · $144,910 (+41%)
- Aerospace Engineers80% similar · $134,960 (+32%)
- Chemical Engineers79% similar · $125,040 (+22%)
- Electrical Engineers78% similar · $120,630 (+18%)
- Materials Scientists78% similar · $117,790 (+15%)
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors79% similar · $115,160 (+12%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for industrial engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where industrial engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Logistics Engineers (88)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (84)
- Cost Estimators (82)
- Quality Control Systems Managers (82)
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers (80)
- Materials Scientists (80)
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (79)
- Biofuels Production Managers (78)
- Energy Auditors (78)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (77)
Questions about jobs like industrial engineers
What jobs are most similar to industrial engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Validation Engineers (82% similar), Energy Engineers (82% similar), Wind Energy Engineers (81% similar), Mechanical Engineers (81% similar) and Materials Engineers (80% similar).
Which jobs like industrial engineers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Engineers ($144,910, +41%; usually a bachelor's degree), Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +32%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Chemical Engineers ($125,040, +22%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with industrial engineers ($102,440). Without more preparation than industrial engineers usually need: Petroleum Engineers, Aerospace Engineers and Chemical Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.