Industrial Engineering Technicians fall into the Investigative Theme Code Category, according to the Strong Interest Inventory® and its associated assessment. This inventory has been used since the early 20th century to help individuals find careers that leverage their interests and that will likely be amenable to their preferences for work environments or structures. Investigative careers typically focus on analyzing or synthesizing information as well as solving scientific, real-world problems. People who are drawn to Investigative careers are generally skilled in the sciences and in mathematics, and they tend to be detail-oriented, technically inclined, independent thinkers who enjoy working independently rather than in collaboration with others.

Industrial Engineering Technicians apply engineering theory and principles to solve problems that are relevant to the industry. Their responsibilities may include compiling and evaluating statistical data on quality or product reliability, testing products at various stages of production, interpreting engineering drawings or diagrams, communicating project outcomes or details to management or engineering staff.

They may also need to evaluate data or write reports to indicate deviations from existing quality standards or to make recommendations for changes that may improve efficiency, or other aspects of operations in the long run. Some Industrial Engineering Technicians, especially those in supervisory positions, may be responsible for quality assurance. These responsibilities may involve staff (e.g., reading worker logs, maintaining time sheets, observing worker performance) and products (e.g., maintaining specification or product processing sheets, inspecting and maintaining equipment).

They may also look for opportunities to add value, such as improving industrial layouts or streamlining manufacturing production. They approach these issues in a variety of ways. For example, they may study time, motion, methods or speed involved in maintenance, production or other operational aspects in order to improve their production rate and/or efficiency. They may also design new equipment or materials, improve equipment layout or materials handled procedures, or make other implementational changes in order to increase production or improve standards. As they make any change, Industrial Engineering Technicians must measure performance statistics before and after the change to ensure that their initiatives had the intended impact.

In order to be successful, Industrial Engineering Technicians use many different kinds of tools and technologies. Most tools will be familiar to those who work in industrial or warehouse environments (e.g., calipers, dial indicators, forklifts, gauge blocks, plotter printers, scissor lifts), as well as typical office environments (e.g., personal and desktop computers, smart phones, fax machines, etc.). In addition to standard office technology (e.g., Microsoft Office Word, email services, web browser software), Industrial Engineering Technicians also use analytical and scientific software (e.g., ProModel, Wilcox Associates PC-DMIS), computer aided design software (e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD, Dassault Systems SOLIDWORKS), database user interface and query software (e.g., data entry software), and industrial control software (e.g., computerized numerical control CNC machine software, EPLAN software, etc.).

Industrial Engineering Technicians need to have a foundation in engineering and technology, and production and processing, as well as mathematics. They also need to have strong problem solving and critical thinking skills as well as the ability to understand and communicate fluently in English. In some contexts, being multilingual may be beneficial, particularly where their employees or stakeholders may prefer to communicate in other languages. Most Industrial Engineering Technicians develop their expertise on-the-job. While comprehensive data is not available, some 37% of these professionals have completed some college without having earned a degree.

The median Industrial Engineering Tech Salary in the United States is just over $55,000 per year. Perhaps surprisingly, the median wage in Louisiana is over $80,000 annually, followed by New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. In fact, Louisiana’s median is even significantly higher than California’s median of $66,770. Furthermore, in Louisiana, Vermont, and New Mexico, the top 10% of these professionals earn over $90,000 per year. The lowest medians in the country are in the relatively rural states of South Dakota, Nevada, and Mississippi. Employment rates are fairly stagnant across the country; the change in total employment in the next decade is forecasted at less than 500 jobs.

Below are some employment trends for Industrial Engineering Technicians:

• Industrial Engineering Tech Salary: $27.19 hourly; $56,550 annually
• Employment: 68,300 employees
• Projected growth (2018-2028): Little or no change (-1% to 1%)
• Projected job openings (2018-2028): 6,600

[Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections]

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• Strong Interest Inventory Realistic Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Artistic Theme Explained
• Strong Interest Inventory Investigative Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Social Theme Explained 
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References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections Onetonline.org