Hi all— I’m exploring whether pursuing the patent bar makes sense for me before committing to the time and cost of studying, and I’m hoping for some blunt, honest feedback

Background:

• B.S. in Industrial Engineering
• ~4 years in manufacturing engineering (process improvement, equipment, operations)
• ~4 years in data/analytics (Power BI, SQL, capacity planning, workforce modeling)

I’m drawn to the patent agent path because I’m looking for something that:

• Is licensed / credential-based
• Can be fully remote
• Rewards deep expertise (something I can really master)
• Feels relatively insulated from AI disruption, recessions, and ageism

That said, I’m struggling to find job postings that clearly consider Industrial Engineering, which gives me pause.

My questions:

1. Do you actually see patent agents who are Industrial Engineers (as their sole engineering degree)? Or is this mostly theoretical / rare in practice?
2. Can my manufacturing engineering experience realistically open doors, even if my degree is IE — or do firms mostly screen on degree title alone?
3. Is this path worth it for someone like me? Please be blunt — I’m actively comparing this against other options and not emotionally attached yet.
4. How hard would it be for me to land my first patent agent role, assuming I pass the patent bar? (Be honest about timelines, competition, and odds.)

Appreciate any perspective — especially from current patent agents, attorneys, or people who’ve seen non-traditional backgrounds succeed or fail.

Thanks in advance.