How to Become a Industrial Engineer in Kentucky: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median industrial engineer salary in Kentucky is $96,820 per year - 5% below the national median of $102,440 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in industrial or manufacturing engineering.
Industrial Engineer Salary in Kentucky
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky entry level (10th percentile) | $65,980 |
| Kentucky 25th-75th percentile | $79,390 - $116,150 |
| Kentucky median | $96,820 |
| Kentucky top earners (90th percentile) | $135,720 |
| U.S. median | $102,440 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 6,070.
The Kentucky Job Market: Industrial Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Kentucky | 6,070 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 3.03 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.29 |
| Mean annual wage in Kentucky | $99,120 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.29, Kentucky employs industrial engineers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Requirements in Kentucky
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in industrial or manufacturing engineering - while licensing runs through Kentucky’s own boards: PE license optional; Six Sigma / lean certifications valued. Verify current requirements with the Kentucky licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Industrial Engineer.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,370 |
| 25th | $83,600 |
| 50th (median) | $102,440 |
| 75th | $129,250 |
| 90th | $159,860 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 351,100 |
| 2034 projected | 389,600 |
| Percent change | +11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Kentucky?
The median annual wage for industrial engineers in Kentucky is $96,820 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $102,440.
How do I become a industrial engineer in Kentucky?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in industrial or manufacturing engineering - with licensing administered at the state level: PE license optional; Six Sigma / lean certifications valued. See the steps below.
How many industrial engineers work in Kentucky?
BLS counts about 6,070 industrial engineers employed in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Industrial Engineer in Nearby States
- Industrial Engineer in Iowa
- Industrial Engineer in Kansas
- Industrial Engineer in Louisiana
- Industrial Engineer in Maine
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Industrial Engineers (SOC 17-2112), Kentucky and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
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/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |