Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 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.
- US jobs
- 365,740 (SOC 17-2112 group, "Industrial Engineers")
- Median wage
- $102,440 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of human factors engineers and ergonomists?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 9% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 17-2112 group).
- 7%Document technical designs, procedures, or activitiesNot measured
- 7%Research technology designs or applicationsNot measured
- 6%Develop research plans or methodologiesNot measured
- 6%Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical dataNot measured
- 4%Communicate with others about specifications or project detailsNot measured
- 4%Read documents or materials to inform work processesNot measured
- 4%Advise others on business or operational mattersNot measured
- 3%Manage control systems or activitiesNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 61%Claude Opus 5.5 (max) with Claude Code 2.1.280 · 24 Sep 2026Strong
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- 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.
- Inspect work sites to identify physical hazards.
- Prepare reports or presentations summarizing results or conclusions of human factors engineering or ergonomics activities, such as testing, investigation, or validation.
- Recommend workplace changes to improve health and safety, using knowledge of potentially harmful factors, such as heavy loads or repetitive motions.
- 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.
- Assess the user-interface or usability characteristics of products.
- Establish system operating or training requirements to ensure optimized human-machine interfaces.
- Integrate human factors requirements into operational hardware.
- Review health, safety, accident, or worker compensation records to evaluate safety program effectiveness or to identify jobs with high incidence of injury.
Other job titles for this occupation (23)
Board Certified Ergonomist · Certified Professional Ergonomist · Cognitive Engineer · Engineer · Ergonomic Consultant · Ergonomics Technical Advisor · Ergonomist · Human Factors Advisor · Human Factors Engineer · Occupational Ergonomist · Engineering Psychologist · Ergonomic Specialist · Ergonomics Consultant · Ergonomics Engineer · Ergonomics Specialist · Human Factors Ergonomist · Human Factors Specialist · Human Machine Interface Engineer (HMI Engineer) · Injury Prevention Specialist · Interface Designer · Usability Engineer · Usability Specialist · User Interface Designer (UI Designer)