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Industrial Engineers

Also filed here: Industrial engineer, Production engineer

Heavily edited

AI already performs a large share of the work in this job. Even so, the BLS expects 12.4% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.

41%AI does23%AI helps36%Still yours
Rank
#131 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
US jobs, 2025 to 2035
+12.4% All jobs: +3.5%
Median US pay
$102,440 a year, 2025
People doing it
365,100 in the US, with about 23,100 openings a year

The work, 49 activities

The job description, marked up.

Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.

  • deleAI does this
  • +AIAI helps
  • stetStill yours
  1. AI helps with this: Research technology designs or applications9%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 149 conversations, and it got them there 89% of the time.

  2. AI does this: Document technical designs, procedures, or activities8%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 779 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.

  3. Still yours: Develop research plans or methodologies5%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  4. AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details5%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.

  5. AI does this: Advise others on business or operational matters4%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 290 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.

  6. AI helps with this: Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical data4%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 903 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.

  7. AI does this: Diagnose system or equipment problems3%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 865 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.

  8. AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards3%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.

  9. AI does this: Read documents or materials to inform work processes3%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 214 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.

  10. Still yours: Advise others on workplace health or safety issues3%

    AI does this in desk jobs, but in this one it is mostly hands-on.

  11. AI does this: Train others on operational or work procedures3%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 348 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.

  12. Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations3%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  13. Still yours: Design industrial systems or equipment3%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  14. AI does this: Determine operational methods or procedures2%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 461 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.

  15. Still yours: Resolve personnel or operational problems2%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  16. Still yours: Manage control systems or activities2%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  17. Still yours: Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations2%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  18. AI does this: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies2%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 237 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.

  19. AI does this: Implement procedures or processes2%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 377 Copilot conversations and completed it 89% of the time.

  20. Still yours: Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment2%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  21. Still yours: Estimate project development or operational costs2%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  22. AI helps with this: Analyze performance of systems or equipment2%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 563 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.

  23. AI helps with this: Determine resource needs of projects or operations2%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,590 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.

  24. AI helps with this: Create visual designs or displays2%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 78 conversations, and it got them there 40% of the time.

  25. Still yours: Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities2%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  26. Still yours: Inspect facilities or equipment2%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  27. AI does this: Plan work activities2%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 720 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.

  28. AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise1%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.

  29. Still yours: Supervise personnel activities1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  30. Still yours: Prepare proposals or grant applications1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  31. Still yours: Maintain operational records1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  32. AI helps with this: Investigate organizational or operational problems1%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,383 conversations, and it got them there 86% of the time.

  33. Still yours: Inspect completed work or finished products1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  34. AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies1%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.

  35. AI does this: Develop models of systems, processes, or products1%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 1,656 Copilot conversations and completed it 72% of the time.

  36. AI helps with this: Maintain electronic, computer, or other technical equipment1%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,196 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.

  37. AI does this: Develop technical specifications for products or operations1%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 1,901 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.

  38. AI does this: Operate computer systems or computerized equipment1%

    AI performed this in about 1 in 92 Copilot conversations and completed it 71% of the time.

  39. AI helps with this: Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications1%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 502 conversations, and it got them there 54% of the time.

  40. Still yours: Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  41. Still yours: Collect samples of products or materials1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  42. Still yours: Install commercial or production equipment1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  43. AI helps with this: Test performance of equipment or systems1%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,100 conversations, and it got them there 92% of the time.

  44. Still yours: Schedule operational activities1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  45. AI helps with this: Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits1%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,066 conversations, and it got them there 94% of the time.

  46. AI helps with this: Purchase goods or services1%

    People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 214 conversations, and it got them there 91% of the time.

  47. Still yours: Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  48. Still yours: Develop sustainable organizational or business policies or practices1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

  49. Still yours: Design electrical or electronic systems or equipment1%

    Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.

2025 to 2035

Ten years from now.

For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 112 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.

US jobs by 2035+12.4%
shrinkingyellow tick: all jobs +3.5%growing

About 23,100 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.

Nearby

Where your skills travel.

Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.

The wire

On the wire.

Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Work front:

More from the Work front →

How to read this file.

deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.

+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.

stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.

Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.25, higher than 81% of jobs.

Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.

Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 17-2112 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035

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