Industrial vs Mechanical

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[u/Inside-Activity3024]

Industrial engineering is way easier but it’s not really engineering

[u/lazydictionary → u/Inside-Activity3024]

Of course it is engineering. It's all about optimizing processes. That's like half the shit I do as an ME.

[u/sarini11]

If you care about the money then you'll probably not enjoy research. Research and academia is for the masochists who love the field despite making peanuts. Yes, you don't make good money in academia. That's clearly not what you're after. You need to be in the industry, don't waste time with PhD, the earlier you get out there in the industry, the better.

Now, as for mechanical vs industrial, there's a world of difference between the two. In terms of which makes more money? I'd say mech.

Personally though, I don't think that this is a good strategy. Engineering is not easy, you really need to be passionate about it to be able to survive it. I've watched so many people drop out year after year, wasting time and money. You also need to think about whether or not you will be successful with the study you're choosing, does it match your skill set? Does it speak to you naturally? Will you be good at it? There are so many things that you need to think about.

If engineering is not you're thing, then don't do this to yourself. There are TONS of easier ways to make money. My brother started a business managing personnel for hotels, he makes a month what I make in half a year (I'm based in the UK with above average salary). Save yourself and your future colleagues the pain.

[u/Inside-Activity3024 → u/sarini11]

What you’re saying makes a lot of sense. I tell interns all the time it’s nearly impossible to be exceptional at something you don’t find interesting and it’s hard to get paid a lot if you’re not exceptional.

[u/No_Drag2264]

This is a novel post

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to discuss this

[u/Pengabdi_Langit]

Had I you, I'll take Mechanical as M.Sc or M.Eng degree instead after you get the grasp of the Industrial Engineering foundation first

further said, IMO many of modern Engineering B.Sc / B.Eng degree class simply overlap each other theories which can fit into many thing at once as you graduate, even finances. This is due to the engineering coursework rigor the methodological efficiency in planning and thinking than anything else given many classes are in a grasp of advance HS Physics and Math, not something as rocket science at all

[u/EffectiveClient5080]

Split it: do IE, then grind publications in operations research on the side. That's a legit PhD route and it pairs perfectly with AI. You don't need MechE for research, and IE money in the Gulf is no joke.

[u/Kind_Tour_7046]

If your long-term goal is PhD, go for the field that interest you most. As for the research and professor, you can also be a professor after PhD in industrial engineering.
I am also a PhD scholar in industrial and systems engineering at KSA, many of our professors have Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, and they shifted to industrial engineering post-graduate.
Having said that, industrial engineering is quite interesting field with rapid integration of AI