by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, industrial technology/technician was the 217th most popular major nationwide with 4,540 degrees awarded. This 133 less than the prior year, a decrease of 2.9%.
This year's Best Industrial Technology Schools ranking compares 60 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom industrial tech rankings further below.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to industrial tech. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic industrial technology/technician program qualifications, to serve in some industrial tech careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Industrial Tech degree levels vary. Industrial Technology programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest industrial tech degree you can get. Different industrial technology/technician degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to industrial tech, with approximately 25.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for industrial tech workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some College Courses | 36.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 25.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 14.7% |
| High School Diploma | 12.0% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 9.7% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in industrial technology/technician have received.
The education level required is different depending on the industrial tech career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your industrial tech degree? Industrial Technology careers are expected to grow 0.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to industrial technology/technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering Technicians | 64,300 | 0.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for industrial tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for industrial technology/technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers industrial tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering Technicians | $58,860 |
With over 331 different industrial tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased industrial tech school rankings to help you with this.
Industrial Technology is one of 8 different types of Industrial Production Technology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing Engineering Technology | 4,812 |
| Other Industrial Production Technologies | 1,740 |
| Plastics & Polymer Engineering Technology | 302 |
| Welding Engineering Technology | 274 |
| Composite Materials Technology | 91 |
