Industrial Engineers vs Lawyers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Lawyers professionals earn $50,020 more per year than Industrial Engineers professionals — that's 49.5% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Industrial Engineers$70,000 – $157,140
Lawyers$72,780 – N/A
$70,000$157,140
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Industrial Engineers | Lawyers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $72,780 | $-2,780 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,910 | $99,760 | $-17,850 |
| Median (50th) | $101,140 | $151,160 | $-50,020 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,480 | $215,420 | $-87,940 |
| 90th Percentile | $157,140 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $107,900 | $182,760 | $-74,860 |
Employment Numbers
Industrial Engineers
350,230
employed nationwide
Lawyers
747,750
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
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 |
Best Cities for Lawyers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $215,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $203,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Industrial Engineers or Lawyers?
Lawyers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $50,020 (49.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
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.
What is the salary range for Lawyers?
Lawyers salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $151,160.
How many Industrial Engineers and Lawyers jobs are there?
There are approximately 350,230 Industrial Engineers positions and 747,750 Lawyers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Lawyers to Industrial Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Industrial Engineers has a median salary of $101,140 while Lawyers earns $151,160. 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