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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The highest-paying city might surprise you. The lowest-paying one probably won't. The national median salary for Industrial Engineers in 2026 is $110,570, with entry-level positions averaging $79,610 and senior roles reaching $157,009. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $201,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Industrial Engineer sits at the intersection of Engineering and Engineering. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's in IE, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$122,550 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Industrial Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $201,400 — $122,550 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,850). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Industrial Engineers in 2026: $79,610 at entry (P10), $110,570 at midpoint, and $157,009 at the senior end (P90). But raw salary is only half the story. The $77,399 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $30,203 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $188,100, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $79,483. The $108,617 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Industrial Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $201,400 — $122,550 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($78,850). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Industrial Engineer is $79,610, while senior-level (P90) earners average $157,009. That $77,399 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Industrial Engineers at $133,452 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $117,325) is $16,127.
At the 90th percentile, Industrial Engineers pull in an average of $157,009. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $79,610 | $110,570 | $157,009 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £43,757 | £60,774 | £86,299 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$64,060 | CA$88,973 | CA$126,341 |
| Australia | 13 | A$74,060 | A$102,861 | A$146,063 |
| Sweden | 24 | 437,201 kr | 607,223 kr | 862,257 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $96,085 | $133,452 | $189,501 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $92,853 | $128,963 | $183,127 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $92,340 | $128,250 | $182,115 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $85,500 | $118,750 | $168,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $84,474 | $117,325 | $166,602 |
| Washington | 8 | $82,850 | $115,069 | $163,398 |
| New York | 5 | $77,976 | $108,300 | $153,786 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $77,976 | $108,300 | $153,786 |
| Florida | 22 | $77,385 | $107,480 | $152,621 |
| Colorado | 11 | $76,048 | $105,623 | $149,984 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $75,924 | $105,450 | $149,739 |
| Nevada | 5 | $75,787 | $105,260 | $149,469 |
| Arizona | 12 | $75,411 | $104,738 | $148,727 |
| Oregon | 5 | $75,240 | $104,500 | $148,390 |
| Idaho | 3 | $75,012 | $104,183 | $147,940 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $74,419 | $103,360 | $146,771 |
| Utah | 4 | $74,214 | $103,075 | $146,367 |
| Virginia | 7 | $72,993 | $101,379 | $143,958 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $72,048 | $100,067 | $142,095 |
| Alaska | 1 | $71,820 | $99,750 | $141,645 |
| Illinois | 5 | $70,999 | $98,610 | $140,026 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $69,236 | $96,161 | $136,549 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| Montana | 1 | $68,400 | $95,000 | $134,900 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $68,172 | $94,683 | $134,450 |
| Texas | 40 | $67,836 | $94,216 | $133,787 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $67,716 | $94,050 | $133,551 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $67,374 | $93,575 | $132,877 |
| Georgia | 6 | $67,146 | $93,258 | $132,427 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $67,032 | $93,100 | $132,202 |
| Kansas | 4 | $66,690 | $92,625 | $131,528 |
| Michigan | 6 | $66,462 | $92,308 | $131,078 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Maryland | 1 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $64,980 | $90,250 | $128,155 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $64,980 | $90,250 | $128,155 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $63,270 | $87,875 | $124,783 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $62,928 | $87,400 | $124,108 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $62,073 | $86,213 | $122,422 |
| Missouri | 4 | $62,073 | $86,213 | $122,422 |
| Alabama | 5 | $61,834 | $85,880 | $121,950 |
| Indiana | 3 | $60,876 | $84,550 | $120,061 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $60,876 | $84,550 | $120,061 |
| Iowa | 2 | $60,192 | $83,600 | $118,712 |
| Ohio | 6 | $60,078 | $83,442 | $118,487 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $57,456 | $79,800 | $113,316 |
Geography shapes Industrial Engineer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $133,452 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($201,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $95,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $201,400 | 212 | $95,000 | $117,072 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $188,100 | 198 | $95,000 | $110,507 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $174,800 | 184 | $95,000 | $103,185 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $171,950 | 181 | $95,000 | $101,616 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $169,100 | 178 | $95,000 | $100,047 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $168,150 | 177 | $95,000 | $99,524 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $168,150 | 177 | $95,000 | $99,524 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $164,350 | 173 | $95,000 | $97,432 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $164,350 | 173 | $95,000 | $97,432 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $160,550 | 169 | $95,000 | $95,340 |
The $77,399 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Industrial Engineer career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Engineering sector, growing, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Industrial Engineers is $110,570 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $79,610, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $157,009.
The highest-paying city for Industrial Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $201,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($201,400), Santa Clara ($188,100), Irvine ($174,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Industrial Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $78,850. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Industrial Engineers (10th percentile) average $79,610 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $145,008. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Industrial Engineers average $157,009 nationally — $77,399 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Industrial Engineers can earn up to $285,988.
The top-paying states for Industrial Engineers are California ($133,452 median), Massachusetts ($128,963 median), Hawaii ($128,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Industrial Engineer involves Bachelor's in IE. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $110,570 and representation across 288 metro areas, Industrial Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $77,399 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.