Quick answer:Industrial Engineers in California earn a median $124,600 per year, above the national median of $102,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 32,680 of them. Licensing runs through your state engineering licensing board.
Industrial Engineering Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$124,600
$102,440
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$77,900
$74,370
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$98,380
$83,600
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$154,190
$129,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$172,870
$159,860
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
32,680
365,740
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.76
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
11.0%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $124,600 sits above the national median of $102,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.76 puts California below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Industrial engineering demand tracks the region’s manufacturing base, distribution and logistics networks, and large healthcare or service operations that run process improvement teams.
Industrial Engineers Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), industrial engineers wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
11,460
$113,040
$121,280
$78,320
$166,090
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
5,470
$132,230
$139,350
$90,240
$198,560
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
4,800
$136,950
$145,190
$97,480
$206,190
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
3,990
$119,050
$120,260
$73,530
$166,120
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
1,580
$101,700
$107,640
$67,370
$153,430
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
910
$110,190
$118,940
$68,080
$169,460
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
610
$101,630
$107,260
$68,760
$153,410
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
380
$119,790
$121,840
$82,000
$160,820
Bakersfield-Delano
280
$104,700
$109,180
$71,320
$155,100
Stockton-Lodi
280
$101,280
$107,200
$67,090
$152,740
Fresno
260
$97,650
$103,140
$64,190
$150,080
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
230
$121,660
$120,700
$78,160
$170,850
Vallejo
190
$113,630
$118,410
$79,080
$164,180
Modesto
150
$98,560
$102,750
$70,450
$130,410
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
120
$131,740
$131,440
$84,710
$172,180
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
110
$100,380
$104,500
$65,280
$154,680
Visalia
80
$101,860
$106,950
$75,800
$134,500
Salinas
60
$95,100
$106,140
$70,500
$158,770
Chico
40
$99,350
$104,650
$64,930
$168,780
Merced
40
$91,490
$101,150
$60,010
$157,620
El Centro
30
$99,330
$103,670
$82,010
$136,110
Napa
30
$106,380
$112,040
$74,250
$155,130
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Industrial engineering sits on the same Professional Engineer path the state boards administer, through an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience and the PE exam in industrial and systems engineering. In practice the license is required less often here than in civil or environmental work, because most industrial engineers are employed inside manufacturing and logistics operations under what is commonly called the industrial exemption. The credentials employers ask for more often are Lean and Six Sigma certifications, which are issued by private bodies rather than by any state.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state engineering licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How much do industrial engineers make in California?
The median annual wage for industrial engineers in California is $124,600, above the national median of $102,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $98,380 at the 25th percentile to $154,190 at the 75th.
How many industrial engineers work in California?
California holds about 32,680 industrial engineer jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 365,740, and BLS projects about 25,200 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a industrial engineer in California?
Industrial engineering sits on the same Professional Engineer path the state boards administer, through an ABET-accredited degree, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, qualifying experience and the PE exam in industrial and systems engineering. In practice the license is required less often here than in civil or environmental work, because most industrial engineers are employed inside manufacturing and logistics operations under what is commonly called the industrial exemption. The credentials employers ask for more often are Lean and Six Sigma certifications, which are issued by private bodies rather than by any state. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state engineering licensing board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a ABET-accredited BSIE online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state engineering licensing board.
What is the highest-paying area of California for industrial engineers?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $136,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for industrial engineers?
On pay, the state median of $124,600 sits above the national $102,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.76 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
