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First, some facts. Of the Industrial Engineering graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 879 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 77%, Industrial Engineering graduates have a higher likelihood (+10%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 31% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Industrial Engineering graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2013 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Industrial Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONQuality Assurance Engineer Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Jan 2019 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Business Administration - MBABelhaven University 2014 - 2016 ABOUTI enjoy working in an environment that encourages both personal and professional higher growth. I am a self-motivated; self starting MAN that has clear vision of my career path. I am passionate about continuously enhancing efficiencies and quality, from an automation perspective. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When exploring the career trajectories of individuals who graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering, a diverse array of job types emerges. Many graduates find positions that connect to their educational background, while others pursue paths that offer varying degrees of relevance to industrial engineering principles. A significant number of graduates secure roles in quality engineering, manufacturing, supply chain management, and process improvement, indicating a strong alignment with the core competencies of their degree. Positions such as Industrial Engineer, Quality Engineer, and Manufacturing Engineer are prime examples where industrial engineering knowledge is directly applicable, focusing on optimizing processes, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring quality control.
Furthermore, graduates work as project engineers or managers, often employing their problem-solving and analytical skills to manage projects effectively. Jobs within firms like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and GE, for instance, highlight how many industrial engineering graduates are cementing their careers in crucial industries, contributing to significant projects that rely heavily on the methodologies learned during their studies. In addition to these traditionally relevant roles, many graduates also enter consulting or analytical positions, such as analysts at Deloitte or Bain & Company. While these roles may harness industrial engineering methods for process optimization and strategy, they often trend towards general business practices, which can dilute their engineering specificity.
Some graduates, however, take on roles that are less aligned with their field of study. Careers in sales, customer service, and areas unrelated to direct engineering tasks show a fraction of industrial engineering graduates venturing into broader business realms, applying minimal aspects of their education. Questions about these career paths arise regarding how effectively they leverage their industrial engineering skills in such positions. Overall, while industrial engineering graduates showcase versatility in their job choices, there is a clear indication that many pursue paths that remain closely linked to their educational foundation, emphasizing the relevance of industrial engineering principles across various industries and roles.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Industrial Engineering graduates:
When looking at the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Industrial Engineering, a few trends emerge that help us understand what paths these professionals typically take after college. Graduates from various universities, such as Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, and Purdue, generally follow similar patterns in their job choices, revealing insights into the opportunities available to them in their field. For most, the first job after graduating tends to be in roles like intern or entry-level positions related to industrial engineering, which provide practical experience in the workforce. This experience often includes positions like manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, or consultants, often within significant companies in tech, manufacturing, or consulting sectors.
As time progresses, say after five or ten years, the story looks more diversified. Many graduates climb the corporate ladder, moving into mid or senior-level positions such as project managers, operations managers, or specialized roles in engineering (like systems engineering or industrial management). It's a common pattern to see individuals transitioning from technical roles into managerial or strategic roles, suggesting that the foundational skills learned in Industrial Engineering—like process optimization, systems thinking, and analytics—translate well into leadership positions. However, there are also cases where graduates end up in fields completely tangent to industrial engineering, such as marketing or business consulting, raising questions about job alignment.
While many graduates from prestigious schools land impressive senior roles in large companies, not all have a smooth journey. Some may find themselves jumping between different industries, roles, or even starting entrepreneurial ventures. This can indicate that, despite the job market being robust for industrial engineers, not every graduate finds their ideal role immediately. There are indeed individuals whose paths veer away from their original degrees, into areas like real estate, teaching, or management roles irrelevant to their studies, which could highlight personal changes in interests or job availability. Overall, the outlook for industrial engineering graduates is commonly positive, especially in terms of returning to related fields with growth potential, but there are those whose career paths reflect a more challenging reality that strays from their degree focus.
A Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your strengths and interests. If you enjoy subjects like math, science, and problem-solving, you might find it manageable or even fun. The coursework often includes a mix of technical classes, like statistics and systems engineering, along with projects that require a lot of teamwork and critical thinking. While it might not be the hardest degree out there, it definitely has its tough moments, especially during crunch times with exams and projects. Overall, if you're ready to put in the effort and have a passion for the material, you’ll likely find it rewarding rather than overly difficult.
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering.
Looking through the LinkedIn profiles of these Industrial Engineering graduates, it seems like many of them have landed lucrative jobs in their fields. For instance, graduates from prestigious universities such as Georgia Tech and Purdue University have made impressive career strides, often moving up in pay and titles rapidly. You can see a trend of individuals starting as interns or entry-level engineers and quickly advancing to managerial or specialized roles within a few years, which suggests they are making some decent money early on in their careers.
However, not everyone has quite the same trajectory. Some individuals appear to have taken on roles that may not pay as well or have less career progression. For example, graduates from less recognized institutions or those with job titles related to sales and customer service may not see the same financial rewards as their engineering counterparts. All in all, it looks like if you’re studying engineering, especially at a good school, you’ve got a solid shot at making a decent wage out of the gate. However, not everyone’s path is lined with dollar bills, and factors like location, industry, and specific roles can make a big difference in earnings.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering. This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Industrial Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
| College | Score | Count |
|---|---|---|
 Iowa State University
|
88 | 11 |
 North Carolina State University
|
87 | 12 |
 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
|
87 | 15 |
 Texas A&M University
|
83 | 39 |
 Purdue University
|
81 | 36 |
 University of Central Florida
|
80 | 23 |
 Georgia Institute of Technology
|
80 | 59 |
 Penn State University
|
79 | 16 |
 Texas Tech University
|
79 | 10 |
 University of Pittsburgh
|
79 | 15 |
 University of Washington
|
78 | 12 |
 University of Arkansas
|
78 | 11 |
 University of Wisconsin-Madison
|
76 | 13 |
 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
|
73 | 15 |
 West Virginia University
|
71 | 19 |
 Clemson University
|
69 | 23 |
 University of Florida
|
64 | 11 |