California Median
$124,600
per year
Hourly Rate
$59.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+22% vs US median
US median $102,440
State Rank
#5 of 51
32,680 employed here
How much does an Industrial Engineer make in California?
Industrial Engineers in California take home a median of $124,600 annually — roughly $59.90 an hour — which runs 22% above the national median of $102,440.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $77,900 while the top 10% make $172,870 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $98,380 and $154,190 a year.
Industrial Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,900 | $37.45 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $98,380 | $47.30 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $124,600 | $59.90 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $154,190 | $74.13 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,870 | $83.11 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories for Industrial Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Industrial Engineer salary in other states
Alaska $156,510Washington $129,050Oregon $128,290New Mexico $128,090Hawaii $123,800Louisiana $122,920Wyoming $122,070Delaware $120,190Maryland $119,930Colorado $109,750Massachusetts $109,420Rhode Island $109,350West Virginia $108,360Arizona $108,280Texas $104,560Montana $104,430Connecticut $104,160Utah $103,940New Jersey $103,840District of Columbia $103,300Vermont $103,010Minnesota $102,660New York $102,640Virginia $102,550Nevada $102,090Michigan $101,680Florida $101,610New Hampshire $101,310South Carolina $101,060Maine $101,030Idaho $100,840Illinois $100,540Georgia $100,100Ohio $100,060Alabama $99,880Kansas $99,830Pennsylvania $99,560North Carolina $99,310Missouri $99,290Tennessee $99,080Arkansas $98,410Nebraska $98,170Iowa $97,690Oklahoma $97,510Indiana $97,480Wisconsin $96,980North Dakota $96,940Kentucky $96,820Mississippi $95,830South Dakota $93,200
Working as an Industrial Engineer in California
Nationally, about 366,000 people work as Industrial Engineers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($124,600) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Industrial Engineer make in California?
The median Industrial Engineer salary in California is $124,600 per year, or about $59.90 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $77,900 at the entry level to $172,870 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Industrial Engineers about 22% more than the national median of $102,440. California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Industrial Engineers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $124,600 a year. About 32,680 Industrial Engineers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Industrial Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.