Industrial Engineering Degree in St. Louis, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Industrial Engineering degree analysis for St. Louis, MO. 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
2.2 yrs
in St. Louis
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Industrial Engineering in St. Louis, MO Overview
St. Louis is one of Missouri's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 23,342. Public tuition averages $12,343/year here — near the national average for public universities. Industrial Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Operations Research and Lean Manufacturing. The adjusted starting salary in St. Louis is approximately $72,750.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,343/yr
Private Tuition
$55,255/yr
Room & Board
$8,721/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,996/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
48%
Industrial Engineering Salary in St. Louis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Louis's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Industrial Engineering salary: $75,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.St. Louis adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Industrial Engineering ROI Calculator for St. Louis
Estimate your return on investment for a Industrial Engineering degree using local St. Louis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,343 | Private avg: $55,255
St. Louis avg aid: $9,996/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,256
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$38,800
vs HS diploma in St. Louis
ROI Payback Period
2.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Louis
$788,744
Lifetime earnings premium ($873,000) minus total education cost ($84,256)
Student Loan Payoff for Industrial Engineering in St. Louis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Louis for Industrial Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis
private
$60,590/yr
$242,360 total
Saint Louis University
private
$49,920/yr
$199,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
St. Louis Community College
$3,600/yr
Top Employers for Industrial Engineering in St. Louis
St. Louis offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Industrial Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Louis Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Industrial Engineering Job Titles
Industrial Engineering in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$71K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
Springfield, MO
$60K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$63K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$64K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$72K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$65K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$68K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$63K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in St. Louis
Petroleum Engineering
$49K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$49K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$78K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$78K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$49K starting · 3 yr ROI
Industrial Engineering Degree in St. Louis — 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 St. Louis.