An industrial sensor, comprising: a sensing component configured to perform a measurement of an aspect of an industrial process; an output control component configured to generate an output signal based on the measurement, wherein the sensing component and the output control component are configured to operate in accordance with one or more variable operating parameters (402, 404; 602; 702) that define a performance level of the industrial sensor, wherein the one or more variable operating parameters comprise at least one of a sensing range, an operating frequency at which the output control component can switch the output signal between states, a response time defining a minimum duration between detection of an event by the industrial sensor and generation of the output signal, a level of immunity to environmental noise, a communication speed, or a visual interface setting; a profile control component configured to scale the one or more variable operating parameters based on a determined characteristic of a sensing application in which the industrial sensor is used or will be used; and a profile storage area configured to store multiple configuration profiles that define respective sets of values for the one or more operating parameters, wherein the profile control component is configured to select a configuration profile from the multiple configuration profiles based on the determined characteristic of the sensing application, and wherein selection of the configuration profile causes the industrial sensor to operate in accordance with a set of values for the one or more operating parameters defined by the configuration profile. a sensing component configured to perform a measurement of an aspect of an industrial process; an output control component configured to generate an output signal based on the measurement, wherein the sensing component and the output control component are configured to operate in accordance with one or more variable operating parameters (402, 404; 602; 702) that define a performance level of the industrial sensor, wherein the one or more variable operating parameters comprise at least one of a sensing range, an operating frequency at which the output control component can switch the output signal between states, a response time defining a minimum duration between detection of an event by the industrial sensor and generation of the output signal, a level of immunity to environmental noise, a communication speed, or a visual interface setting; a profile control component configured to scale the one or more variable operating parameters based on a determined characteristic of a sensing application in which the industrial sensor is used or will be used; and a profile storage area configured to store multiple configuration profiles that define respective sets of values for the one or more operating parameters, wherein the profile control component is configured to select a configuration profile from the multiple configuration profiles based on the determined characteristic of the sensing application, and wherein selection of the configuration profile causes the industrial sensor to operate in accordance with a set of values for the one or more operating parameters defined by the configuration profile.