Industrial Engineering Degree in Olathe, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Industrial Engineering degree analysis for Olathe, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$102K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in Olathe
Cost of Living
96.8
index (100 = avg)
Industrial Engineering in Olathe, KS Overview
Olathe, Kansas (pop. 141,290) has 6 colleges offering Industrial Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 96.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Industrial Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Operations Research and Lean Manufacturing. The adjusted starting salary in Olathe is approximately $72,600.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,000/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,602/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,861/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
74%
Industrial Engineering Salary in Olathe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Olathe's cost of living index of 96.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Industrial Engineering salary: $75,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Olathe adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Industrial Engineering ROI Calculator for Olathe
Estimate your return on investment for a Industrial Engineering degree using local Olathe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,000 | Private avg: $28,000
Olathe avg aid: $14,861/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$38,720
vs HS diploma in Olathe
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Olathe
$776,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($871,200) minus total education cost ($94,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Industrial Engineering in Olathe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Olathe for Industrial Engineering
Olathe State University
public
$10,248/yr
$40,992 total
University of Olathe
public
$10,626/yr
$42,504 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Olathe Community College
$5,283/yr
Top Employers for Industrial Engineering in Olathe
Olathe offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Industrial Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Olathe Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Industrial Engineering Job Titles
Industrial Engineering in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$78K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$77K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$62K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$63K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$81K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$65K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$72K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$71K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Olathe
Petroleum Engineering
$48K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$79K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$48K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$77K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$77K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Industrial Engineering Degree in Olathe — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Industrial Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Olathe.