Career Explorer Engineering and architecture
Changing shape
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 47% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.1% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on creative vision.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $66,120
- Job growth to 2035
- +3.1%
- Openings a year
- 6,600
- People doing it (2025)
- 76,700
- Usual route in
- Associate's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Research technology designs or applications
- Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment
- Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Operate laboratory or field equipment
- Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards
- Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities
What the work looks like
- Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance.
- Calibrate or adjust equipment to ensure quality production, using tools such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, protractors, or ring gauges.
- Oversee or inspect production processes.
- Identify opportunities for improvements in quality, cost, or efficiency of automation equipment.
- Develop or implement programs to address problems related to production, materials, safety, or quality.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Marine engineers and naval architectsGrows with AI, Index 51, +6.7%
- Materials engineersGrows with AI, Index 61, +7.5%
- Agricultural engineersGrows with AI, Index 66, +6.9%
- Electrical engineersGrows with AI, Index 59, +9.9%
Also known as: Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Industrial Engineering Analyst, Industrial Engineering Technician (Industrial Engineering Tech), Industrial Technician (Industrial Tech), Nanofabrication Specialist, Process Engineering Technician (Process Engineering Tech), R and D Engineer (Research and Development Engineer), Research Lab Associate (Research Laboratory Associate).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.