by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Industrial & Management Engineering covers Engineering/industrial Management. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Engineering Principles To The Planning And Operational Management Of Industrial And Manufacturing Operations, And Prepares Individuals To Plan And Manage Such Operations. Includes Instruction In Accounting, Engineering Economy, Financial Management, Industrial And Human Resources Management, Industrial Psychology, Management Information Systems, Mathematical Modeling And Optimization, Quality Control, Operations Research, Safety And Health Issues, And Environmental Program Management. Read on to learn the essential details every industrial & management engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering industrial & management engineering programs.
In the U.S., industrial & management engineering is a popular field of study, with 7,766 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Industrial & Management Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 179 schools to determine the best overall colleges for industrial & management engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of industrial & management engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Industrial & Management Engineering build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations industrial & management engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a industrial & management engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a industrial & management engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several industrial & management engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 27 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,436 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,189 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 114 |
People currently working in careers related to industrial & management engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.5% |
| Some college courses | 11.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.2% |
| Master’s degree | 10.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in industrial & management engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in industrial & management engineering can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to industrial & management engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to industrial & management engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | 395,031 | 12.1% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Validation Engineers | 298,574 | 4.8% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 266,539 | 2.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of industrial & management engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $86,644 |
| 4 years | $91,137 |
| 5 years | $104,461 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for industrial & management engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers industrial & management engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists | $128,495 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $126,666 |
| Industrial Engineers | $120,863 |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | $108,531 |
With 179 different industrial & management engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased industrial & management engineering school rankings to help you.
Students interested in industrial & management engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Packaging Science | 391 |
| Engineering Design | 267 |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Other | 209 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
