10 Top Companies and Best Jobs for Industrial Engineers

Industrial engineering drives the world’s production, and that is why we decided to create a list of top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers. This is one of the most responsible positions in many different industries. Industrial engineers create production systems that combine machines, human resources, and data. Their job is to eliminate wastefulness, speed up the production process and make it more efficient.

Although many big production companies employ industrial engineers, this is not an easy career path, primarily because of the vast knowledge and skills each industrial engineer needs to gain. The Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering is the first step for getting a job in this field. Still, some candidates manage to get the industrial engineering job with a degree in electrical, mechanical or general engineering.

For creating the methodology for the list of top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers, we have used the data from Indeed, one of the most popular job search platforms in the world. According to Indeed’s data, the average annual salary for Industrial Engineer in the United States is $70,642. The Indeed’s database has provided us with the information about the average annual salary for industrial engineering positions in each famous company. We have taken the list of the companies that pay the highest salaries to Industrial Engineers as the basis for making our article. Since money is not the only criterion, when choosing where to apply, we have also read hundreds of reviews about company’s production processes, management, and culture. These links are shared in the company paragraphs.

We have also shared the rating each company has received from Industrial Engineers, who wrote the reviews. Indeed describes the company rating in stars, with five stars being the highest grade, and one star the lowest. The final score on our list represents the combination of the points received for annual salary and the ones that come from Indeed ratings given by the Industrial Engineers.

For average annual salary, the companies have received the number of points that is equal to the average annual salary, divided with 1,000, and for Indeed ratings they received from 10 to 50 points, depending on the number of stars they have.

We also wanted to investigate which jobs are the best jobs for industrial engineers, so we used the Indeed reviews, and listed all job positions that have given a 5-star review to the company. This way, in each company, you will be able to focus on the positions that show high employee satisfaction.

Since industrial engineers often move across the country (or the world) to find high-paid jobs, apart from the list of the top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers, you should also read the list of the Best States For Industrial Engineers. This way, you will know on which states and ZIP codes to focus, while searching.

10. Whirlpool

Score: 113 points;

Average annual salary: $73,487 (73 points);

Indeed rating: 4 stars (40 points);

Best jobs: Lead Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer Intern/Co-op, Engineering Coordinator / Project Planner;

Whirlpool Corporation is one of the world’s most popular producers of home appliances. Currently, the company employs more than 100,000 workers in the US and the world. Their buildings and production centers can be found in several dozen states from East to West coast, and they are one of the Fortune 500 Companie. Working for Whirlpool Corp. can be a great experience. If you are a full-time employee, the company will provide you with health insurance, 401(k) and paid holidays. Most complaints on Indeed platform describe the constant pressure on engineers to speed up their product cycles and reduce production costs.

9. Boeing

Score: 115 points;

Average annual salary: $74,794 (74 points);

Indeed rating: 4.1 stars (41 points);

Best jobs: Manufacturing Engineer/Planner, Industrial Engineering Methods Analyst III, Manufacturing Engineer, Production Manager & Systems Integrator;

One of the biggest American companies is the right place to start a career in industrial engineering. The company is also a large defense contractor and one of the biggest exporters in the United States.  Although Boeing can be a great reference on your resume, its Indeed rating has failed to a modest 4.1 stars. Most people are complaining about the difficulty of achieving a work-life balance and the fact that the company strongly depends on the world economic trends, which causes frequent layoffs. Still, with competitive salary and a 4-star rating, Boeing is one of the most desirable companies an industrial engineer can work for. Let’s see what’s next on our list of top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers.

8. American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

Score: 116 points;

Average annual salary: $77,494 (77 points);

Indeed rating: 3.9 stars (39 points);

Best jobs: Industrial Engineer

The AAM headquarters is based in Detroit, Michigan. It is a huge manufacturer of automotive components that works with all major car manufacturers in the country. American Axle produces axles, joints and drive shafts and it is a good place to start your engineering career. The AAM came into the spotlight in 2008, when a big strike caused huge damage for both the company and its major partners. Since then, the company has stood back on its feet and continued to deliver parts for the automotive industry. Indeed Q&A reviews say that working hours in AAM range between 8 and 12 depending on the position. There’s a lot of mandatory overtime, and the company provides health insurance, 5% 401(k) match and paid holidays, after the probation period.

7. Navistar, Inc.

Score: 124 points;

Average annual salary: $88,137 (88 points);

Indeed rating: 3.6 stars (36 points);

Best jobs: Senior Engineering Manager, Senior Quality/Supplier Engineer;

Navistar is an international company next on our list of top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers, that produces different types of trucks, buses and chassis parts for car manufacturers. They have had a long lasting cooperation with Ford Motors and several other big automotive industry players. The company headquarters is in Illinois, and they employ more than 16,000 workers. Only one Industrial Engineer reviewed Navistar on Indeed and shared a range of observations that go from good management and safe work environment to the difficulties he/she experienced while trying to improve the production line. Depending on the position, employees of Navistar work from 8 to 10 hours and have from one to four work breaks.

 6. Siemens Industry

Score: 126 points;

Average annual salary: $87,951 (87 points);

Indeed rating: 3.9 stars (39 points);

Best jobs: Sr. System Engineer, Senior Engineering Manager;

German conglomerate has a large branch in the United States, which includes both production facilities and research centers. They produce everything from smartphones to medical equipment. Since Siemens is one of the biggest tech companies in the world, it can offer you great career advancement opportunities. A typical day of an industrial engineer in Siemens, involves blue print drawing and a constant coordination with company management, to cut the production costs and make the process more cost-effective. Most engineers in Siemens work from 40 to 50 hours per week and the company provides medical insurance that includes dental and vision coverage and a 401(k) match.

 

5. Johnson Controls

Score: 129 points;

Average annual salary: $90,415 (90 points);

Indeed rating: 3.9 stars (39 points);

Best jobs: Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Lead Engineer, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Manufacturing Engineer, System Technician, Quality Engineer, Senior Quality Engineer;

This Fortune Global 500 conglomerate, number 5 on our list of top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers is one of the biggest producers of car batteries in the world. In the beginning, the Johnson Controls was the American company, but it later merged with Tyco International and shifted its headquarters to Ireland. Still, the company runs several production facilities in the United States. Engineers who work for Johnsons Controls like the fact that they are working for the big and stable employer, who offers great career prospects and advancement opportunities. Still, several reviewers on Indeed platform pointed out the lack of the proper training and the bad management that makes the whole operation complicated.

 

4. Flex

Score: 130 points;

Average annual salary: $90,812 (90 points);

Indeed rating: 4 stars (40 points);

Best jobs: Manufacturing Development Engineer, Product/Test/Quality Engineer, Engineering Coordinator / Project Planner;

Flex is a very popular employer in the United States and South East Asia, and it has earned the fourth position on our list of 10 top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers. This electronics manufacturer is now based in Singapore, but it was founded in the Silicon Valley, almost fifty years ago. On the Indeed platform, there is only one review written by an industrial engineer, which states that many people in Flex’s production facility are contractors. This approach is not good for creating a relevant company culture. Still, Flex provides full medical insurance, which includes both dental and vision coverage, 401(k) and one reviewer has also mentioned tuition reimbursements.

3. Honeywell

Score: 134 points;

Average annual salary: $95,028 (95 points);

Indeed rating: 3.9 stars (39 points);

Best jobs: Lead Engineer, Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Sr. Advance Test Engineer for the Boeing, System Engineer, Quality Engineer;

This huge international conglomerate, number three on our list of top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers, can be a great reference on your resume. Honeywell’s production lines are very diverse. Their production is divided into four different segments, performance materials program, aerospace equipment, home and building equipment and safety solutions. On Indeed they have only one Industrial Engineering review, which is very positive and describes the company as an employer with friendly personnel that pays well and hires capable individuals. In the Q&A section, we have found out that Honeywell provides two weeks of paid vacation, medical insurance that includes dental coverage and a 401(k) match.

2. Intel

Score: 151 points;

Average annual salary: $109,660 (109 points);

Indeed rating: 4.2 stars (42 points);

Best jobs: Process Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Systems Engineer, Senior Engineering Manager;

Apart from the great reputation of Intel and very competitive salaries they offer, the Silicon Valley location is another benefit you get if you start working for Intel. There, you will be able to network, socialize and exchange experiences with thousands of other high paid engineers and entrepreneurs, which can drastically improve your career prospects. Even if you get stationed in a production plant overseas, the Intel reference on your resume will help you to find amazing jobs in the future. On Intel’s Review page on Indeed platform there are three references written by industrial engineers, and they all describe their employer as an influential and organized company that offers great salary and benefits.

1. Apple

Score: 157 points;

Average annual salary: $115,657 (115 points);

Indeed rating: 4.2 stars (42 points);

Best jobs: Systems Engineer, Manufacturing Design, Supply Base Engineer, K12 Education Senior Systems Engineer;

The biggest technology company in the world is by far the most desired employer, among Industrial Engineers, in the United States and abroad. That is why Apple has aced our list of top companies and best jobs for industrial engineers. Apple, Inc. is the best reference you can have on your resume. On Indeed Review page they have received highly positive reviews from people who have worked in many different positions within the company. They usually describe Apple as the employer who provides you a great opportunity to learn, grow and meet the pioneers from various tech fields. Apple is by far the best employer in the United States when it comes to salaries and benefits.