Electrical Engineer vs Industrial Engineer

Measured from each occupation's own live postings: mostly different jobs wearing similar names. Posted pay is close to a wash.

The short answer

$67k–$130kElectrical Engineer
evenat the midpoint
$72k–$118kIndustrial Engineer

On pay, this one is close to even. Postings that state a salary put electrical engineers at $67k–$130k and industrial engineers at $72k–$118k, so the midpoints sit within $3k of each other. The difference between the two jobs is in the work and the skills, not the paycheck.

On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.

Electrical Engineer

Posted pay, middle half$67k–$130k
FieldEngineering
Postings read3,627
Open right now1,401 (85 remote)

Industrial Engineer

Posted pay, middle half$72k–$118k
FieldEngineering
Postings read1,157
Open right now353 (11 remote)

Switching, both directions

Electrical Engineer → Industrial Engineer

26% skill readiness

What industrial engineer postings ask for that electrical engineer profiles usually lack: Supply Chain, Welding / Fabrication, Data Analysis, Operations.

Run this direction on the instrument

Industrial Engineer → Electrical Engineer

36% skill readiness

What electrical engineer postings ask for that industrial engineer profiles usually lack: Electrical Systems, Blueprint Reading, AutoCAD, PLC / Controls.

Run this direction on the instrument

Open electrical engineer roles

See all 1,401 electrical engineer jobs →

Open industrial engineer roles

See all 353 industrial engineer jobs →

See the whole board for both

1,754 open roles across the two.

Related comparisons

Which one do your skills favor?

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Quick answers

Which pays more, electrical engineer or industrial engineer?

On pay, this one is close to even. Postings that state a salary put electrical engineers at $67k–$130k and industrial engineers at $72k–$118k, so the midpoints sit within $3k of each other. The difference between the two jobs is in the work and the skills, not the paycheck. By seniority and country: electrical engineer salary and industrial engineer salary.

Are electrical engineer and industrial engineer the same job?

On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair.

Can an electrical engineer become an industrial engineer?

Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical electrical engineer profile covers 26% of what industrial engineer postings ask for. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.

Can an industrial engineer become an electrical engineer?

Going the other way, a typical industrial engineer profile covers 36% of what electrical engineer postings ask for.

How many electrical engineer and industrial engineer jobs are open right now?

Right now our board has 1,401 electrical engineer openings and 353 industrial engineer openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most electrical engineers at the moment: Direct employer (522), iPersonal AG (334), VONDO AG (12). For industrial engineers: Direct employer (244), American Axle & Manufacturing (3), Abbott (3).

Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.

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