Financial Analysts vs Industrial Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Analysts professionals earn $210 more per year than Industrial Engineers professionals — that's 0.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Financial Analysts earns $180,550 compared to $157,140 for Industrial Engineers.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Analysts$62,410 – $180,550
Industrial Engineers$70,000 – $157,140
$62,410$180,550
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Analysts | Industrial Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $62,410 | $70,000 | $-7,590 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,300 | $81,910 | $-3,610 |
| Median (50th) | $101,350 | $101,140 | +$210 |
| 75th Percentile | $132,050 | $127,480 | +$4,570 |
| 90th Percentile | $180,550 | $157,140 | +$23,410 |
| Mean (Average) | $116,490 | $107,900 | +$8,590 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Analysts
340,580
employed nationwide
Industrial Engineers
350,230
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $134,470 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $128,490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $128,470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,410 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $110,450 |
Best Cities for Industrial Engineers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $139,130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $133,790 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $126,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,310 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Financial Analysts or Industrial Engineers?
Financial Analysts professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $210 (0.2% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Analysts?
Financial Analysts salaries range from $62,410 (10th percentile) to $180,550 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,350.
What is the salary range for Industrial Engineers?
Industrial Engineers salaries range from $70,000 (10th percentile) to $157,140 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,140.
How many Financial Analysts and Industrial Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 340,580 Financial Analysts positions and 350,230 Industrial Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Industrial Engineers to Financial Analysts?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Analysts has a median salary of $101,350 while Industrial Engineers earns $101,140. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS