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Advanced ManufacturingTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.Green JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

Industrial Engineer

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.

Annual openings

438

Median wage

$109,750

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Growth 2026–2032

+11%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Bachelor's degree

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

No previous work experience is required. However, jobs as a technician can help you gain experience for this job.

An Industrial Engineer plans and designs manufacturing systems that increase productivity, effectiveness and efficiencies of people and machines.
Are you great with numbers? Would you love to be an inventor? A job as an industrial engineer gives you the opportunity to come up with your own ideas and see them brought to life in a variety of ways.
Some Employers identified previous production experience gaining knowledge of the manufacturing process and the ability to communicate with those creating a product is an advantage. Plus some will pay for college while you work.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerYes
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Engineering and Science
  • Engineering

Automation exposure

Moderate exposure

Some routine tasks may shift as tools improve, but the role is likely to adapt.

A typical day

  1. Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of product design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
  2. Plan and establish sequence of operations to fabricate and assemble parts or products and to promote efficient utilization.
  3. Analyze statistical data and product specifications to determine standards and establish quality and reliability objectives of finished product.
  4. Confer with clients, vendors, staff, and management personnel regarding purchases, product and production specifications, manufacturing capabilities, or project status.
  5. Communicate with management and user personnel to develop production and design standards.
  6. Evaluate precision and accuracy of production and testing equipment and engineering drawings to formulate corrective action plan.
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