Industrial Engineers Salary
Industrial Engineers in Pennsylvania make a median of $99,560 a year, or about $47.87 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $104,833 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 21.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Pennsylvania?
About industrial engineers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Industrial engineers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level industrial engineers (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Industrial Engineers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $103K | +4% | 1,090 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $103K | +4% | 6,170 |
| Reading | $100K | -0% | 440 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $98K | -1% | 530 |
| Pittsburgh | $98K | -1% | 2,140 |
| Lancaster | $98K | -2% | 610 |
| Gettysburg | $98K | -2% | 50 |
| Chambersburg | $97K | -3% | 170 |
| York-Hanover | $94K | -6% | 500 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $93K | -6% | 510 |
| Lebanon | $93K | -7% | 80 |
| State College | $89K | -11% | 100 |
| Erie | $86K | -13% | 500 |
| Williamsport | $86K | -13% | 150 |
| Johnstown | $86K | -13% | 80 |
| Altoona | $80K | -19% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a industrial engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for industrial engineers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new industrial engineers typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,182/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is industrial engineer a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for industrial engineers?
Pennsylvania pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do industrial engineers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $99,560 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,700, and experienced industrial engineers can clear $143,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,281/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 21.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a industrial engineers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median industrial engineers salary is worth about $104,833 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do industrial engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.