Careers / Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$102,440
United States, 2025
Employment
365,740
United States, 2025
Typical education
Master's Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 17-2112.01
- Job zone
- 5
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.
- Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.
- Advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers.
- Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.
- Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.
- Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.
- Perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement.
- Provide technical support to clients through activities, such as rearranging workplace fixtures to reduce physical hazards or discomfort or modifying task sequences to reduce cycle time.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$74,370
25th percentile
$83,600
75th percentile
$129,250
90th percentile
$159,860
Most important skills
- Speaking4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Writing4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Active Learning3.8
- Systems Evaluation3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Mathematics3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 21 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
21
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.6 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.5 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Technology Design | 3.1 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Instructing | 3.1 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Human Factors Engineers and ErgonomistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $171,910 | 110 | 2025 |
| AK | $156,510 | 220 | 2025 |
| Charleston, WV | $143,860 | 160 | 2025 |
| Midland, TX | $141,120 | 320 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $139,600 | 160 | 2025 |
| Billings, MT | $139,420 | 110 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $136,950 | 4,800 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | 820 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $132,230 | 5,470 | 2025 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $131,870 | 650 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $131,740 | 120 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $131,210 | 4,590 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $129,890 | 5,230 | 2025 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | 470 | 2025 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $129,260 | 180 | 2025 |
| WA | $129,050 | 6,130 | 2025 |
| Houma, LA | $128,690 | 60 | 2025 |
| OR | $128,290 | 5,810 | 2025 |
| NM | $128,090 | 1,140 | 2025 |
| New Orleans, LA | $127,340 | 460 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.