25 Best States For Industrial Engineers

If you don’t have anything against relocating to a place better suited for your skill set, check out our list of best states for industrial engineers.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data tells us that there were 241,100 industrial engineers employed in the United States in 2014. Most of them were employed in Aerospace Product and Parts and other manufacturing industries.  There are projections saying the number of employed industrial engineers will increase by 1% nationwide from 2014 to 2024. We know that doesn’t sound too encouraging, but it’s better than nothing. The one thing that industrial engineers have in their favor is versatility. They are not specialized for just one field, like the majority of other engineers, so they can be useful for numerous industries. There is also projected increase of retirements in this occupation, which will ultimately lead to more job openings.

Let’s talk about money. In terms of median annual wage, industrial engineers were earning $84,310, which is just below average for all engineers. The highest earning 10% of them increased their bank accounts for $129,390, while the lowest 10% were paid $54,070 per year. Oil, gas and petroleum related industries were the highest paying ones. If you are, by any chance, a nuclear engineer, you will be glad to hear that your occupation is better paid. You can get familiar with more details on our list of  15 Best States For Nuclear Engineers.

Shall we now proceed onto finding the best states for industrial engineers? We figured that people like to get paid well, get more job opportunities and live in a place with low cost of living. That is why we took those three factors into consideration when creating the list. We looked into every state’s data about the cost of living (Missouri Economy), annual median wage (BSL) and projected job growth (Projections Central) for industrial engineers and ranked them accordingly for each of these factors. After combining all the rankings into our IM Score, the list took shape. Now, let’s check out the list of best states for industrial engineers.

25. Maryland

IM Score: 78
Annual median wage: $87,800
Job growth: 11.0%
Cost of living index: 125.0

We will open our list with the state that has the highest income per capita in the entire nation. That is only fitting since Maryland is also the state with the biggest cost of living index. There are currently 2,640 industrial engineers employed in the state, with a projected increase to 2,920. There will be 110 average annual job openings.

24. New Mexico

IM Score: 78
Annual median wage: $91,530
Job growth: 1.0%
Cost of living index: 95.7

There are currently 1,230 industrial engineers employed in the state, which is a small number considering that New Mexico is ranked third in terms of oil and gas production. There will be a certain increase of job openings, but you shouldn’t get your hopes high.

23. Georgia

IM Score: 80
Annual median wage: $77,490
Job growth: 9.1%
Cost of living index: 91.4

We are continuing our list of best states for industrial engineers with Georgia that is doing really well as a state. It has diverse industry and by some estimation, it would be ranked 28th largest economy in the world if independent. There are 5,750 industrial engineers employed here, with expected 520 new employments.

22. Arkansas

IM Score: 81
Annual median wage: $75,280
Job growth: 7.2%
Cost of living index: 88.5

There are projected 60 annual job openings for industrial engineers in Arkansas, so it’s up to you to determine will you snatch one. It is also estimated that there will be an employment increase from 1,650 to 1,770.

21. North Carolina

IM Score: 81
Annual median wage: $81,690
Job growth: 6.3%
Cost of living index: 94.2

North Carolina, the number 21 on our list of  has a very diverse industry and has been labeled as one of the states with booming technology. Projections indicate that there will be 440 new employments of industrial engineers with 250 average annual job openings.

20. California

IM Score: 84
Annual median wage: $100,300
Job growth: 10.01%
Cost of living index: 134.8

California has the highest cost of living index on our list of best states for industrial engineers, so don’t get fooled by high wage. A good chunk of it will be spent on basic necessities. California is one of the states with the biggest number of employed engineers, and the trend is likely to continue with almost 1,000 average annual job openings.

19. Missouri

IM Score: 85
Annual median wage: $81,340
Job growth: 4.6%
Cost of living index: 90.8

If you want to live in the state of beer, then consider Missouri. The state will have 3,970 employed industrial engineers in the future, compared to the current number of 3,800. Expected number of average annual job openings is 130.

18. Wyoming

IM Score: 86
Annual median wage: $102,910
Job growth: -9.8%
Cost of living index: 91.7

Wyoming, the next one on the list of best states for industrial engineers is the least populous state in the nation and focuses mostly on agriculture and mineral and energy production. Although it is second best paying state, there aren’t as many industrial engineers here as you would have thought. The current number of 200 is expected to drop to 180 in the future.

17. Kansas

IM Score: 87
Annual median wage: $79,240
Job growth: 8.2%
Cost of living index: 90.4

Although natural gas and petroleum industry is on the decline in Kansas, thanks to the rising aerospace industry, there will be 70 average annual job openings for industrial engineers in the state. The current number of 1,780 employed is projected to increase to 1,930.

16. Arizona

IM Score: 89
Annual median wage: $91,710
Job growth: 5.7%
Cost of living index: 98.1

If you can stand the heat, there will be 270 new employments for industrial engineers in the state increasing the current number of 4,750 to 5,020.

15. Indiana

IM Score: 90
Annual median wage: $71,490
Job growth: 12.0%
Cost of living index: 87.9

The state mostly relies on the manufacturing industry to drive its economy, so there will surely be no shortage of jobs for industrial engineers with a projected employment increase of 1000. Although you can enjoy 2nd lowest cost of living index in the nation, the bad news is that Indiana is the lowest paying state in terms of annual median wage on the list.

14. Nevada

IM Score: 94
Annual median wage: $82,000
Job growth: 115.4%
Cost of living index: 104.5

No, it isn’t a mistake. The number of employed industrial engineers in Nevada will more than double in the future. This will mean a jump from 620 to 1,330 employed within the occupation. There will be 90 average annual job openings.

13. Kentucky

IM Score: 97
Annual median wage: $76,260
Job growth: 15.3%
Cost of living index: 90.8

The state’s coal industry, for which Kentucky was famous, is on its knees but luckily, there is a booming manufacturing industry to save the day. According to projections, Kentucky will be home to 850 new employed industrial engineers in the future.

12. Alabama

IM Score: 102
Annual median wage: $79,680
Job growth: 14.2%
Cost of living index: 91.2

Although Alabama has the 4th highest unemployment rate in the United States according to BLS, finding a job for industrial engineers won’t be a much of a challenge with 190 average annual job openings. 620 new employments will be made in the occupation increasing the number of employed from 4,380 to 5,000.

11. Tennessee

IM Score: 102
Annual median wage: $76,810
Job growth: 16.6%
Cost of living index: 89.8

There are currently 5,210 employed industrial engineers in the state with a projected increase of 860 newly employed and 240 average annual job openings. Similar to Alabama, Tennessee also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States.

10. Oklahoma

IM Score: 102
Annual median wage: $80,290
Job growth: 11.4%
Cost of living index: 88.6

Oklahoma is labeled as one of the fastest rising economies in the entire nation, so maybe it wouldn’t be bad to jump on the bandwagon. It is also fairly cheap state to live in. 200 more industrial engineers are expected to be employed in the future.

9. Nebraska

IM Score: 103
Annual median wage: $81,080
Job growth: 13.4%
Cost of living index: 91.3

If you don’t mind being in the Tornado Alley, you can head to Nebraska, the next one on our list of best states for industrial engineers, that is one of the states with lowest unemployment rates in the United States. Projections indicate that there will be 50 average annual job openings in the state.

8. Louisiana

IM Score: 103
Annual median wage: $99,950
Job growth: 6.7%
Cost of living index: 94.4

The perk of being an industrial engineer in Louisiana is that they are very well paid. If you are looking for a job here, there will be 150 new employments made in the future.

7. Oregon

IM Score: 106
Annual median wage: $99,550
Job growth: 20.7%
Cost of living index: 115.4

We admit, Oregon, the number 7 on our list of best states for industrial engineers does have a high cost of living index, but that can be covered with the high annual median wage you will get as an industrial engineer. There will also be a big increase in demand for industrial engineers and the number of employed is projected to increase from 3,560 to 4,300.

6. Mississippi

IM Score: 108
Annual median wage: $79,010
Job growth: 13.9%
Cost of living index: 86.0

After you saw all the big numbers on our list of best states for industrial engineers, you may think $79,000 isn’t enough of a wage to make a good living. Obviously it wouldn’t be in New York, but here in Mississippi, you will live like a king. With 86.0 the state has the lowest cost of living index in the nation. This especially goes for housing, which is ridiculously cheap.

5. Colorado

IM Score: 112
Annual median wage: $92,950
Job growth: 24.5%
Cost of living index: 102.1

You know the one thing people in Colorado, the next one on our list of best states for industrial engineers, rarely worry about? Finding a job. The state has the lowest unemployment rate in the entire nation as of March 2017. There will be an increase in demand for industrial engineers, with projected 690 new employments.

4. Utah

IM Score: 113
Annual median wage: $82,210
Job growth: 32.8%
Cost of living index: 92.8

Utah is a great state to be in. There will be lots of job openings in the future, the wage is good and the cost of living isn’t scary. Also, everyone in Utah earns pretty much the same, since the state is ranked first in income equality.

3. Michigan

IM Score: 122
Annual median wage: $85,170
Job growth: 13.5%
Cost of living index: 88.2

We are continuing our list of best states for industrial engineers with Michigan that has the highest concentration of jobs for industrial engineers, and it doesn’t mean to stop there. It is projected that 3,050  new employments will be made within the occupation with almost a 1,000 average annual job openings.

2. Texas

IM Score: 127
Annual median wage: $97,080
Job growth: 13.1%
Cost of living index: 90.7

The state has a leading role in a number of industries and there will be a lot of average annual job openings for industrial engineers, 610 to be precise. The current number of 14,300 employed will increase for 1,880 in the future.

1. Idaho

IM Score: 132
Annual median wage: $90,290
Job growth: 23.6%
Cost of living index: 89.6

The reason for Idaho being on top of our list of best states for industrial engineers is rather simple. While most of the states excel on one end, but fail at the other, Idaho offers the best overall climate for industrial engineers. The state offers well above average annual median wages, will have 360 average annual job openings within the occupation and the cost of living index is among the lowest in the nation. What more could you ask for?