Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

17-3026.00 Zone 3 — Medium Preparation Needed

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.

Also known as: 3D Printing Tech (Three Dimensional Printing Technician), Additive Manufacturing Production Technician, Additive Manufacturing Technician, Analysis Tester, Boiler Water Tester, Business Process Analyst, CAD Specialist (Computer Aided Design Specialist), Cellophane Tester, ...

Annual Salary

$64,790

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$53,230 25th – 75th percentile $79,040
10th percentile $46,370
90th percentile $97,670
U.S. Employment: 73,410

Job Outlook

+1.7%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Slower than average)

Annual Job Openings 6,300 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: Associate's degree

What You'd Do

  • Study time, motion, methods, or speed involved in maintenance, production, or other operations to establish standard production rate or improve efficiency.
  • Aid in planning work assignments in accordance with worker performance, machine capacity, production schedules, or anticipated delays.
  • Read worker logs, product processing sheets, or specification sheets to verify that records adhere to quality assurance specifications.
  • Compile and evaluate statistical data to determine and maintain quality and reliability of products.
  • Test selected products at specified stages in the production process for performance characteristics or adherence to specifications.
  • Verify that equipment is being operated and maintained according to quality assurance standards by observing worker performance.
  • Adhere to all applicable regulations, policies, and procedures for health, safety, and environmental compliance.
  • Analyze, estimate, or report production costs.
  • Assist engineers in developing, building, or testing prototypes or new products, processes, or procedures.
  • Calibrate or adjust equipment to ensure quality production, using tools such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, protractors, or ring gauges.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.9
Complex Problem Solving 3.8
Monitoring 3.4
Time Management 3.3
Speaking 3.3
Systems Evaluation 3.3

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Mechanical 4.4
Engineering and Technology 4.1
Production and Processing 3.7
Mathematics 3.6
Design 3.5
English Language 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Physics 3.4

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Some College
36.9%
Associate's
25.5%
Bachelor's
14.7%
High School
12%
< High School
9.7%
Certificate
1.3%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Autodesk AutoCAD Bentley MicroStation C C++ Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Extensible markup language XML IBM SPSS Statistics Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Visual Basic Microsoft Visual Studio Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word SAP software The MathWorks MATLAB UNIX

Other Tools

ABB CPM4Metals Advanced Dimensional Management 3D-GD&T Artificial intelligence software AspenTech Aspen InfoPlus Autodesk Algor Simulation Autodesk Inventor AVEVA InTouch HMI Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.7
Attention to Detail
2.2
Dependability
1.8
Cautiousness
1.7
Achievement Orientation
1.5
Integrity
1.4
Perseverance
1.4
Intellectual Curiosity

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.0
Problem Sensitivity 4.0
Deductive Reasoning 4.0
Inductive Reasoning 4.0
Written Comprehension 3.8
Near Vision 3.8
Oral Expression 3.5
Information Ordering 3.4

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.2
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment 4.1
Thinking Creatively 4.0
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 3.9
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 3.9
Getting Information 3.9
Working with Computers 3.8
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings 3.7

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

E-Mail
4.9
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.7
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection
4.7
Telephone Conversations
4.6
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.6
Contact With Others
4.5
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.5
Freedom to Make Decisions
4.3
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.3
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
4.2
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.2
Frequency of Decision Making
4.2

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.