20. California
IM Score: 84
Annual median wage: $100,300
Job growth: 10.01%
Cost of living index: 134.8
California has the highest cost of living index on our list of best states for industrial engineers, so don’t get fooled by high wage. A good chunk of it will be spent on basic necessities. California is one of the states with the biggest number of employed engineers, and the trend is likely to continue with almost 1,000 average annual job openings.
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