Ergonomist
Impact: Human well-being, Productivity, Safety, Design optimization
Design and assess workspaces, products, and systems to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. Apply scientific principles to improve safety, comfort, and efficiency.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Frequent
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- 10-20% local/regional
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 40-45 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $85,000
- Entry-level
- $60,000 - $75,000
- Senior
- $110,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 9% (faster than average)
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- High to 80-120% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $40,000 - $80,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Human Factors Engineering
- Biomechanics
- Data Analysis
- CAD Software
- Research Methods
- Risk Assessment
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Collaboration
- Empathy
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Master's Degree
- Licensing
- Optional
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Junior Ergonomist
- Ergonomist
- Senior Ergonomist
- Lead Ergonomist / Consultant
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 10% to low risk due to complex problem-solving and human interaction
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.9/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.8/10
- Prestige
- 7.5/10
- Social perception
- High