Industrial technology graduates have a tendency to land on their feet. Entry-level workers with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology can find numerous entry-level industrial technology jobs with salaries of at least $50,000, while graduates who become licensed or certified in their field can go on to enjoy even more opportunities. Industrial technologists are well compensated for their skills, but just how positive is the job outlook for industrial technology majors?
Salaries and Job Outlook for the Most Popular Industrial Technology Careers
“Industrial technologist” is a catchall term that encapsulates plant managers, industrial designers, technology analysts, and other positions centered around productivity. In general, the job outlook for this group of professionals is bright. As industries increasingly rely on technology and automation, tech-savvy problem-solvers will remain in high demand. For a clearer look at the outlook of your potential career, let’s take a look at the job outlooks for some of the most popular industrial technology job titles.
Industrial Engineers
Industrial engineers apply the lessons in productivity taught by UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program directly to their positions. Specifically, they ensure that people, processes, and machinery work together in harmony to deliver a product or service. There were 284,600 industrial engineering jobs in the United States in 2018, and there will soon be many more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), industrial engineering positions are expected to grow by over 8% over the next decade. For their cost- and time-saving talents, industrial engineers can expect an average annual salary of about $80,000.
Cost Estimators
Cost estimators estimate the money, materials, and manpower needed to complete a project. Although this skill proves valuable in manufacturing industries, cost estimators are most often employed in construction, an industry known for slim profit margins and a need for efficiency. Cost estimators make about $65,000 a year, but those in the top 10% can earn over $111,000. There were 217,400 cost estimator jobs in the United States in 2018, but don’t expect that number to stagnate. BLS reports that employment prospects for cost estimators are expected to grow by 9% over the next decade. 18,700 additional cost estimators will be employed by 2028. Will you be one of them?
Industrial Production Managers
Industrial production managers oversee the day-to-day operations of manufacturing plants and hold one of the highest-paid positions a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology graduate can obtain, with the top 10% earning over $176,000 a year. There were 186,500 industrial production manager jobs in the United States in 2018. Employment for this position is expected to grow over the next decade, but only marginally, so competition will remain fierce. You’ll need experience and education to stand out from the crowd in a field like this, which is why earning your Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology is so important.
Choose From a Number of Exciting Career Fields
Industrial technologists are employed in a wide range of fields. So many, in fact, that you’ll likely have your choice of professional settings when you pursue your new career. There will always be a home for industrial technology graduates in manufacturing industries, but hospitals, engineering firms, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies have also been known to hire industrial technologists. The Boeing Company, for example, is one of the most popular employers of industrial technology majors and offers salaries ranging from $88,000-$128,000.
Using the careers listed above as examples, we know that cost estimators most often end up employed in the construction industry, and industrial engineers have a bit more freedom thanks to their versatile skill set. As a graduate of UT Permian Basin’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program, you’ll be ready for opportunities in any number of exciting industries, including utility, transportation, food processing, and computer and electronic product manufacturing. Industrial engineers also offer professional, scientific, and technical services, which means you could one day be earning a six-figure industrial technology salary as a consultant.
Industrial production managers, although more closely tied to manufacturing industries, still have an incredible amount of freedom when it comes to choosing where to work. According to the BLS, industrial production managers worked in the following top industries:
- Chemical manufacturing
- Transportation equipment manufacturing
- Machinery manufacturing
- Food manufacturing
- Fabricated metal product manufacturing
The job outlook for industrial technology majors is promising, but we’ve yet to discuss an even more important career outlook: your own.
The Start of Your Career Path
As an industrial technology graduate, you’ll have a skill set that will serve you well no matter what industry you end up in. Furthermore, once employed, there’s nothing stopping you from moving from one industry to another as opportunities present themselves. The career path you take may be linear, or it may be winding, with numerous rewarding detours. No matter where successful industrial technologists end up on their career path, their start is the same: a reputable degree in industrial technology.
A Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from UT Permian Basin can prepare you for a rewarding career as an industrial technologist by providing the technical and scientific skills needed to thrive in your chosen profession. UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program can teach you how to:
- Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) software: a necessary skill for cost estimators.
- Develop integrative systems for industrial and commercial establishments.
- Manage project constraints, such as time, money, and resources.
Our program will also teach you the fundamental concepts of management, including principles of administration, leadership, and decision making. Flexible 8-week courses are offered in a 100% online format with six start dates a year. Tuition can be paid by the course, and financial aid is available. Visit our program page to request more information.
You Get What You Give
Professionals educated in the use of engineering and manufacturing technology are highly sought after and will remain so for years to come. They continue to report high job satisfaction and populate some of the top-paying jobs in their industries. These benefits, however, are exactly what makes industrial technology such a competitive industry. You get out what you put in, and only professionals with the right levels of education, experience, and work ethic will earn those high-paying, rewarding positions. If you’re ready to start on this career path and see where your hard work takes you, apply for UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program. Your career outlook is as bright as you make it.
Learn more about UT Permian Basin’s online Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program.
Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/industrial-engineers.htm#tab-3
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/industrial-production-managers.htm#tab-6
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/cost-estimators.htm#tab-4
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_(BS_%2F_BSc)%2C_Industrial_Technology_(IT)/Salary#_blank