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.

The median annual salary for Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists in the US is $101,140. The middle 80% of workers earn between $63,080 and $153,180 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $78,700 and $123,640.

The role is projected to grow 11% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 351,100 workers.

The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.

The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Systems Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.

Our AI-durability model gives Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists a score of 0.52 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.

Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.