Industrial Engineers Salary
Industrial Engineers in Washington make a median of $129,050 a year, or about $62.04 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $177K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $126,507 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 22% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $129K get you in Washington?
About industrial engineers
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for industrial engineers, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Washington offers a genuinely strong financial position for industrial engineerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level industrial engineers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $177K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Industrial Engineers salary by metro in Washington
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $131K | +2% | 4,590 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $121K | -6% | 100 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $118K | -9% | 180 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $107K | -17% | 150 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $104K | -19% | 220 |
| Bellingham | $101K | -22% | 60 |
| Longview-Kelso | $100K | -23% | 90 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $95K | -27% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a industrial engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for industrial engineers in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new industrial engineers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,101/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $129K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for industrial engineers?
Washington pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do industrial engineers make in Washington?
The median is $129,050 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,010, and experienced industrial engineers can clear $176,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,247/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median industrial engineers salary is worth about $126,507 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.