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Career Details

17-2112.01 - 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.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
241,100
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
243,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
+2,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+0.9%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Write, review, or comment on documents, such as proposals, test plans, or procedures.
  • Train users in task techniques or ergonomic principles.
  • Review health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records to evaluate safety program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury.
  • Provide human factors technical expertise on topics, such as advanced user-interface technology development or the role of human users in automated or autonomous sub-systems in advanced vehicle systems.
  • Estimate time or resource requirements for ergonomic or human factors research or development projects.
  • Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.
  • Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Operate testing equipment, such as heat stress meters, octave band analyzers, motion analysis equipment, inclinometers, light meters, thermoanemometers, sling psychrometers, or colorimetric detection tubes.
  • Integrate human factors requirements into operational hardware.
  • Establish system operating or training requirements to ensure optimized human-machine interfaces.
  • Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.
  • Develop or implement human performance research, investigation, or analysis protocols.
  • Develop or implement research methodologies or statistical analysis plans to test and evaluate developmental prototypes used in new products or processes, such as cockpit designs, user workstations, or computerized human models.
  • Design cognitive aids, such as procedural storyboards or decision support systems.
  • Conduct research to evaluate potential solutions related to changes in equipment design, procedures, manpower, personnel, or training.
  • Assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products.
  • Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.
  • Apply modeling or quantitative analysis to forecast events, such as human decisions or behaviors, the structure or processes of organizations, or the attitudes or actions of human groups.
  • Analyze complex systems to determine potential for further development, production, interoperability, compatibility, or usefulness in a particular area, such as aviation.
  • Advocate for end users in collaboration with other professionals, including engineers, designers, managers, or customers.
  • Design or evaluate human work systems, using human factors engineering and ergonomic principles to optimize usability, cost, quality, safety, or performance.
Supplemental
  • Investigate theoretical or conceptual issues, such as the human design considerations of lunar landers or habitats.
  • Perform statistical analyses, such as social network pattern analysis, network modeling, discrete event simulation, agent-based modeling, statistical natural language processing, computational sociology, mathematical optimization, or systems dynamics.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 78%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Psychology
  • 76%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 English Language
  • 75%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Education and Training
  • 68%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Design
  • 68%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 66%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Mathematics
  • 66%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Clerical
  • 59%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 59%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Administration and Management
  • 58%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Sociology and Anthropology
  • 57%
    Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
 Production and Processing
  • 56%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 51%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Mechanical
  • 50%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Algometers
  • Electromagnetic motion analysis systems
  • Hand sensor gloves
  • Inclinometers
  • Lumbar motion monitors
  • Motion capture systems
  • Torsiometers
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Anthropometers
  • Electronic distance measuring devices
 Blood pressure units and related products
  • Automated blood pressure measurement equipment
  • Manual blood pressure measurement equipment
 Medical exam size measuring devices
  • Body fat measurement calipers
  • Goniometers
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
  • Tablet computers
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Digital audio recorders
  • Microphones
 Cameras
  • Digital video cameras
  • Video goggles
 Neurological exam products
  • Electroencephalography EEG equipment
 Aerobic training equipment
  • Exercise treadmills
 Mechanical instruments
  • Hand dynamometers
  • Isokinetic dynamometers
  • Push/pull dynamometers
 Computer displays
  • Interactive whiteboards
  • Touch screen monitors
 Sound generating and measuring equipment
  • Noise meters
  • Octave band analyzers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • Atlassian JIRAHOT
 Development software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
  • AJAXHOT
  • Altia Design
  • C++HOT
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSSHOT
  • Debugging software
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • Graphical user interfaces GUI
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSONHOT
  • jQueryHOT
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • Regression testing software
  • Seeing Machines faceLAB
  • TechSmith Morae
  • Usability testing software
  • User interface design software
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Adobe Systems Adobe IllustratorHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • TechSmith Camtasia
  • Word processing software
 Industry specific software
  • AEMC DataView
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Bit Debris Solutions Usability Activity Log
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Dartfish ProSuite
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKSHOT
  • Data Translation quickDAQ
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • Mangold INTERACT
  • Mangold LogSquare
  • Mangold Soundalyzer
  • Noldus Information Technology FaceReader
  • Noldus Information Technology The Observer XT
  • Noldus Information Technology uLog Pro
  • Ovo Studios Ovo Logger
  • SASHOT
  • Simulation software
  • Statistical software
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • The MathWorks Simulink
  • Thought Technology BioGraph Infiniti
  • Triangle Research Collaborative Observational Coding System OCS Tools
 Network applications software
  • Apple Safari
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Product/Equipment
  • Certified User Experience Specialist
    One Rogers Street Cambridge, MA 02142-159

  • IBM Certified Solution Developer - Web Experience Factory 8.5
    1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)

  • IBM Certified Associate - Digital Experience 8.5
    1133 Westchester Avenue White Plains, NY 10604404-238-1234 (outside U.S.)

 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
A program directly related to this occupation is currently not offered by any of our partner institutions. You should contact the Institution(s) you are considering to discuss other options that may meet your needs and background.