Jobs Similar to Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to human factors engineers and ergonomists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Computer and Information Research Scientists, Validation Engineers and Health and Safety Engineers.
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists: $102,440 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 77% | $140,300 | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Validation EngineersSame group | 77% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsSame group | 76% | $115,160 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Health Informatics Specialists | 76% | $105,850Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 75% | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 75% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Database Architects | 74% | $139,500 | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersSame group | 74% | $109,370 | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Industrial EngineersSame group | 74% | $102,440 | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 74% | $133,970 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Wind Energy EngineersSame group | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Water/Wastewater EngineersSame group | 74% | $100,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Radio Frequency Identification Device SpecialistsSame group | 74% | $130,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 74% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 74% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 74% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Operations Research Analysts | 73% | $88,940 | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Materials EngineersSame group | 73% | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 73% | $90,150 | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 73% | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Computer and Information Research Scientists
77% similar · $140,300 · Graduate degree
- 2Validation Engineers
77% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
76% similar · $115,160 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Health Informatics Specialists
76% similar · $105,850 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 5Aerospace Engineers
75% similar · $134,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Automotive Engineers
75% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Database Architects
74% similar · $139,500 · Bachelor's degree
- 8Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
74% similar · $109,370 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Industrial Engineers
74% similar · $102,440 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Nuclear Engineers
74% similar · $133,970 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Wind Energy Engineers
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Water/Wastewater Engineers
74% similar · $100,840 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
74% similar · $130,220 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
74% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Bioinformatics Technicians
74% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Nanosystems Engineers
74% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Operations Research Analysts
73% similar · $88,940 · Graduate degree
- 18Materials Engineers
73% similar · $112,860 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
73% similar · $90,150 · Bachelor's degree
- 20Chemical Engineers
73% similar · $125,040 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Validation Engineers77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Aerospace Engineers75% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Automotive Engineers75% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Database Architects74% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers74% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for human factors engineers and ergonomists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where human factors engineers and ergonomists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like human factors engineers and ergonomists
What jobs are most similar to human factors engineers and ergonomists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Computer and Information Research Scientists (77% similar), Validation Engineers (77% similar), Health and Safety Engineers (76% similar), Health Informatics Specialists (76% similar) and Aerospace Engineers (75% similar).
Do jobs like human factors engineers and ergonomists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than human factors engineers and ergonomists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.