by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Industrial Engineering explores Industrial Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Scientific And Mathematical Principles To The Design, Improvement, And Installation Of Integrated Systems Of People, Material, Information, And Energy. Includes Instruction In Applied Mathematics, Physical Sciences, The Social Sciences, Engineering Analysis, Systems Design, Computer Applications, And Forecasting And Evaluation Methodology. Continue reading for the key facts every general industrial engineering major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general industrial engineering programs.
Nationwide, general industrial engineering is a popular field of study, with 8,533 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Industrial Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 135 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general industrial engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general industrial engineering programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Industrial Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general industrial engineering graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a general industrial engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general industrial engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general industrial 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 | 16 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,848 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,266 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 384 |
People currently working in careers related to general industrial engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 36.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.4% |
| Master’s degree | 10.0% |
| Some college courses | 7.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general industrial engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general industrial engineering prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general industrial engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general industrial engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| 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% |
| Validation Engineers | 298,574 | 4.8% |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | 241,551 | -3.1% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 219,777 | -3.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general industrial engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $77,049 |
| 4 years | $88,006 |
| 5 years | $100,420 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general industrial engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general industrial engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| 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 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
With 135 different general industrial engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general industrial engineering school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
