State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists earn a median of $102,440 per year ($49.25/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 11.0% through 2034, with about 25,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 17-2112Architecture and EngineeringLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $102,440
- Projected growth
- +11.0%
- Openings a year
- 25,200
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Board Certified Ergonomist, Certified Professional Ergonomist, Cognitive Engineer, Engineer, Ergonomic Consultant, Ergonomics Technical Advisor.
How much do Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists make?
10th percentile$74,370
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$83,600
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$102,440
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$129,250
Upper quartile
90th percentile$159,860
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $102,440 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $49.25/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $109,900 |
| People employed | 365,740 |
Versus all US occupations
At $102,440, Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists earn 101% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $51,460 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
The median is typical for the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $102,440.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $159,860 or more while the bottom 10% earn $74,370, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 80% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Alaska pays the most at $156,510, and still leads at $152,903 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $156,510 | $152,903 | 220 |
| Washington | $129,050 | $120,593 | 6,130 |
| Oregon | $128,290 | $124,118 | 5,810 |
| New Mexico | $128,090 | $138,908 | 1,140 |
| California | $124,600 | $112,536 | 32,680 |
| Hawaii | $123,800 | $112,596 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $122,920 | $139,354 | 1,710 |
| Wyoming | $122,070 | $131,696 | 240 |
| Delaware | $120,190 | $120,421 | 820 |
| Maryland | $119,930 | $114,264 | 3,900 |
Is Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist a growing career?
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists11.0%
All US occupations3.1%
+11.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists to change 11.0% over 2024–2034, roughly 3.5× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 38,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 25,200 openings are projected each year, 7.2% of the 351,100 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Industrial engineers focus on reducing internal costs, making their work valuable in manufacturing and other industries, such as consulting and engineering services and research and development firms. As more companies look to lower costs, demand is expected to increase for industrial engineers to optimize production processes, manage supply chains and logistics, and provide expertise on automation.
How to become a Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist
Industrial engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or a related field, such as mechanical or electrical engineering.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as human factors engineers and ergonomists.
- Master's Degree50.0%
- Bachelor's Degree40.0%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate10.0%
What does a Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist do?
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.
Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. They assess workers, quality control, logistics, and other factors involved in coordinating production.
Day-to-day 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.
- Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.
- 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.
- Write, review, or comment on documents, such as proposals, test plans, or procedures.
- Conduct research to evaluate potential solutions related to changes in equipment design, procedures, manpower, personnel, or training.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where human factors engineers and ergonomists work
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 15% |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14% |
| Computer and electronic product manufacturing | 12% |
| Machinery manufacturing | 8% |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 6% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
Transferable skills
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6/5
- Systems Evaluation3.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4/5
- Operations Analysis3.3/5
- Systems Analysis3.3/5
- Instructing3.1/5
- Technology Design3.1/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.5
Investigativeprimary6.2
Artistic2.6
Social2.1
Enterprising2.6
Conventionalprimary4.4
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist: frequently asked questions
How much do Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists make?
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists earn a median of $102,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 101% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $49.25/hr. The middle half earn between $83,600 and $129,250. The top 10% earn $159,860 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.0% hold master's degree.
Is Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 11.0% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 25,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist do?
Industrial engineers devise efficient systems that integrate workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service. A core O*NET task: collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Content workflow software.
Which states pay Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists the most?
The highest state medians for Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists are Alaska ($156,510), Washington ($129,050), Oregon ($128,290) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Human Factors Engineer and Ergonomist?
O*NET scores Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.