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Best states for a manufacturing/industrial engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and architecture and engineering careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for manufacturing/industrial engineers.Our research shows that Washington is the best state in the country for manufacturing/industrial engineers.
We figured that the best places for manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a manufacturing/industrial engineer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for manufacturing/industrial engineers in 2026
1. Washington
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 1,283 Average annual salary: $97,930 Lowest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
2. Massachusetts
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 1,942 Average annual salary: $90,077 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
3. California
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 7,446 Average annual salary: $93,595 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
4. Utah
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 607 Average annual salary: $81,555 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
5. Michigan
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 1,609 Average annual salary: $79,050 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
6. Rhode Island
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 193 Average annual salary: $84,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
7. Texas
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 3,253 Average annual salary: $81,563 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
8. Oregon
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 944 Average annual salary: $80,847 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
9. North Carolina
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 1,838 Average annual salary: $77,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
10. Virginia
Total manufacturing/industrial engineer jobs: 1,498 Average annual salary: $84,233 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
Manufacturing/industrial engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a manufacturing/industrial engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a manufacturing/industrial engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $97,930 | $75,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,283 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $90,077 | $70,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,942 |
| 3 | California | $93,595 | $70,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,446 |
| 4 | Utah | $81,555 | $61,000 | 3,101,833 | 607 |
| 5 | Michigan | $79,050 | $61,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,609 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $84,847 | $65,000 | 1,059,639 | 193 |
| 7 | Texas | $81,563 | $62,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,253 |
| 8 | Oregon | $80,847 | $62,000 | 4,142,776 | 944 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $77,422 | $60,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,838 |
| 10 | Virginia | $84,233 | $64,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,498 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $88,412 | $67,000 | 9,005,644 | 999 |
| 12 | Nevada | $81,722 | $61,000 | 2,998,039 | 280 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $79,163 | $60,000 | 579,315 | 83 |
| 14 | Arizona | $78,118 | $59,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,021 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $77,669 | $60,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,321 |
| 16 | Maryland | $84,236 | $64,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,031 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $79,039 | $60,000 | 3,588,184 | 586 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $75,984 | $58,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,843 |
| 19 | New York | $81,577 | $62,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,846 |
| 20 | Idaho | $77,043 | $58,000 | 1,716,943 | 234 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $77,909 | $60,000 | 3,930,864 | 305 |
| 22 | Delaware | $78,187 | $59,000 | 961,939 | 197 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $74,580 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 737 |
| 24 | Ohio | $70,829 | $54,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,877 |
| 25 | Montana | $77,680 | $59,000 | 1,050,493 | 114 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $70,838 | $54,000 | 1,815,857 | 244 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $79,295 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 239 |
| 28 | Maine | $76,112 | $59,000 | 1,335,907 | 152 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $71,800 | $55,000 | 1,342,795 | 336 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $75,816 | $57,000 | 4,684,333 | 333 |
| 31 | Alabama | $69,956 | $54,000 | 4,874,747 | 812 |
| 32 | Colorado | $73,562 | $56,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,020 |
| 33 | Alaska | $79,027 | $68,000 | 739,795 | 55 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $71,937 | $56,000 | 3,004,279 | 309 |
| 35 | Indiana | $69,855 | $54,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,147 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $74,390 | $56,000 | 2,088,070 | 246 |
| 37 | Florida | $75,450 | $55,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,051 |
| 38 | Kansas | $72,957 | $56,000 | 2,913,123 | 364 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $72,089 | $55,000 | 2,984,100 | 274 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $68,740 | $53,000 | 4,454,189 | 612 |
| 41 | Missouri | $72,352 | $56,000 | 6,113,532 | 730 |
| 42 | Illinois | $71,249 | $55,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,725 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $67,898 | $53,000 | 755,393 | 133 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $64,623 | $50,000 | 5,795,483 | 930 |
| 45 | Georgia | $70,286 | $54,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,414 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $66,471 | $51,000 | 6,715,984 | 807 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $71,629 | $60,000 | 1,427,538 | 63 |
| 48 | Iowa | $60,959 | $47,000 | 3,145,711 | 609 |
| 49 | Vermont | $65,214 | $50,000 | 623,657 | 111 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $65,405 | $50,000 | 869,666 | 85 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $64,257 | $49,000 | 1,920,076 | 277 |
Highest paying states for manufacturing/industrial engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Manufacturing/Industrial Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $97,930 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $90,077 |
| 3 | California | $93,595 |
| 4 | Utah | $81,555 |
| 5 | Michigan | $79,050 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $84,847 |
| 7 | Texas | $81,563 |
| 8 | Oregon | $80,847 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $77,422 |
| 10 | Virginia | $84,233 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $88,412 |
| 12 | Nevada | $81,722 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $79,163 |
| 14 | Arizona | $78,118 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $77,669 |
| 16 | Maryland | $84,236 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $79,039 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $75,984 |
| 19 | New York | $81,577 |
| 20 | Idaho | $77,043 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $77,909 |
| 22 | Delaware | $78,187 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $74,580 |
| 24 | Ohio | $70,829 |
| 25 | Montana | $77,680 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $70,838 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $79,295 |
| 28 | Maine | $76,112 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $71,800 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $75,816 |
| 31 | Alabama | $69,956 |
| 32 | Colorado | $73,562 |
| 33 | Alaska | $79,027 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $71,937 |
| 35 | Indiana | $69,855 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $74,390 |
| 37 | Florida | $75,450 |
| 38 | Kansas | $72,957 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $72,089 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $68,740 |
| 41 | Missouri | $72,352 |
| 42 | Illinois | $71,249 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $67,898 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $64,623 |
| 45 | Georgia | $70,286 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $66,471 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $71,629 |
| 48 | Iowa | $60,959 |
| 49 | Vermont | $65,214 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $65,405 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $64,257 |
Expert opinions on the best states for manufacturing/industrial engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for manufacturing/industrial engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
Manufacturing/industrial engineer best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025