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.
$102,440 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 75%
- 3%
- 22%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 4%. Today's estimate: 7%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 26 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design or evaluate human work systems, using human factors engineering and ergonomic principles to optimize usability, cost, quality, safety, or performance.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 10% | 2.1 work days6.7 h to 1 work week | 0%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Conduct research to evaluate potential solutions related to changes in equipment design, procedures, manpower, personnel, or training.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 10% | 3.3 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 0%Half by Sep 2028 | |
| Perform functional, task, or anthropometric analysis, using tools, such as checklists, surveys, videotaping, or force measurement.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 8% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Develop or implement human performance research, investigation, or analysis protocols.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 6% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 1.3 work weeks | 2%Half by May 2028 | |
| Collect data through direct observation of work activities or witnessing the conduct of tests.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.7 work days | Stays with people | |
| Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | 25%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Conduct interviews or surveys of users or customers to collect information on topics, such as requirements, needs, fatigue, ergonomics, or interfaces.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.3 work days | 19%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| 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.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 3.3 work days | 7%Half by Nov 2027 | |
| 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.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 4% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | Stays with people | |
| 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.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 4% | 2.5 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 0%Half by Jun 2028 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors10% now, 62% by 2028
- Industrial Engineers16% now, 94% by 2028
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers2% now, 38% by 2028
- Validation Engineers14% now, 63% by 2028
- Data Scientists22% now, 98% by 2028
- Computer and Information Research Scientists6% now, 78% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing25,680 people
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services25,420 people
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing20,060 people
- Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)18,200 people
- Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing17,250 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.