Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists

Design objects, facilities, and environments to optimize human well-being and overall system performance, applying theory, principles, and data regarding the relationship between humans and respective technology. Investigate and analyze characteristics of human behavior and performance as it relates to the use of technology.

SOC: 17-2112.01

Common Job Titles

EngineerErgonomistHuman Factors EngineerOccupational Ergonomist
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists (2024)

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

350,230

Wage Distribution by Percentile

MetricU.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less$70,000
10% of workers earn the following or more$157,140
Workers on average earn$107,900

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

  • Psychology4.2/5
  • English Language4.0/5
  • Design3.9/5
  • Engineering and Technology3.8/5
  • Education and Training3.6/5
Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

AJAXAdobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopApple SafariAtlassian JIRAAutodesk AutoCADC++Cascading style sheets CSSDassault Systemes SolidWorksExtensible markup language XMLHypertext markup language HTMLIBM SPSS StatisticsJavaScriptJavaScript Object Notation JSONLinuxMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft Visual BasicMicrosoft WordMozilla FirefoxOracle JavaPythonRSASThe MathWorks MATLABjQuery

Technology Skills

AEMC DataViewAdobe DreamweaverAltia DesignBit Debris Solutions Usability Activity LogComputer aided design CAD softwareDartfish ProSuiteDassault Systemes CATIAData Translation quickDAQ

Tools & Equipment

AlgometersAnthropometersAutomated blood pressure measurement equipmentBody fat measurement calipersColorimetersComputer laser printersDesktop computersDigital audio recorders