Salary comparison
Industrial Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer salary
Mechanical Engineers out-earn industrial engineers by about $1,180 at the median. Here is the full side-by-side breakdown — pay range, top states, and experience.
Mechanical Engineers earn more — a median of $102,320 versus $101,140 for industrial engineers, a gap of about $1,180 (1%). Both figures are published national wage benchmarks.
Industrial Engineer
Verified$101,140
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $70,000
- Top 10%
- $157,140
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Mechanical Engineer
Verified$102,320
Median annual wage
- Entry (10th pct)
- $68,740
- Top 10%
- $161,240
- Discipline
- Architecture & Engineering
Industrial Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — pay distribution
Percentile-by-percentile comparison of national annual wages.
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentileIndustrial Engineer | $70,000 |
| MedianIndustrial Engineer | $101,140 |
| 90th percentileIndustrial Engineer | $157,140 |
| 10th percentileMechanical Engineer | $68,740 |
| MedianMechanical Engineer | $102,320 |
| 90th percentileMechanical Engineer | $161,240 |
Pay by experience
Modeled progression from entry to principal level for each role (estimated from the national percentile curve).
Industrial Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Where each role pays most
Highest-paying states by published median wage.
Industrial Engineer
- Alaska$142,980
- Louisiana$126,960
- Oregon$124,560
- California$123,070
- Wyoming$122,540
Mechanical Engineer
- New Mexico$141,490
- District of Columbia$130,000
- Alaska$129,990
- California$126,370
- Massachusetts$122,670
Which should you choose?
On pay alone, mechanical engineers earn about 1% more at the median — but location and specialization routinely move pay by more than that gap.
Pick industrial engineer if…
Industrial engineers design efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, and information to make a product or service.
- ▹Industry (tech and aerospace pay above traditional manufacturing)
- ▹Lean/Six Sigma certifications
- ▹Years of experience
Pick mechanical engineer if…
Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test mechanical and thermal devices, from engines and tools to HVAC and manufacturing systems.
- ▹Industry (aerospace and oil & gas pay above automotive/consumer)
- ▹Professional Engineer (PE) license
- ▹Years of experience
Industrial Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer — frequently asked
Who earns more, industrial engineers or mechanical engineers?
What is the salary range for industrial engineers vs mechanical engineers?
Should I become a industrial engineer or a mechanical engineer?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2112 (Industrial Engineers), national.
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →