Industrial Engineeringat University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Graduates earn $75,473/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Industrial Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $933K; scenarios range from $798K to $963K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Washington
Graduates earn $75,473/yr, roughly in line with the $73,874 national median for Industrial Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 18.4x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Industrial Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $75,473 far exceeding the $16,743 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranks #13 among 93 Industrial Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 45% earnings increase from $75,473 to $109,185 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Washington's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Industrial Engineering
How University of Washington stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Washington
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Washington, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Industrial Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Industrial Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Industrial Engineering at University of Washington
What does a 74/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Industrial Engineering at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?
At 74/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Industrial Engineering at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?
The 43% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus one of the best schools for Industrial Engineering?
Among 93 Industrial Engineering programs, University of Washington-Seattle Campus's #13 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.