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The differences between human factors engineers and human factors scientists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a human factors engineer and a human factors scientist. Additionally, a human factors engineer has an average salary of $96,427, which is higher than the $87,720 average annual salary of a human factors scientist.
The top three skills for a human factors engineer include user research, human centered design and user experience. The most important skills for a human factors scientist are human subjects, consumer products, and data collection.
| Human Factors Engineer | Human Factors Scientist | |
| Yearly salary | $96,427 | $87,720 |
| Hourly rate | $46.36 | $42.17 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 57,075 | 78,875 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A human factors engineer is responsible for designing system technologies that would help people perform their duties efficiently and accurately. These engineers conduct an in-depth investigation of the human's needs and conceptualize in applying these theories to create technology solutions that adhere to the business requirements and budget limitations. They also perform data and statistical analysis through interviews and surveys to determine the best interface and feasibility. A human factors engineer runs diagnostic tests to ensure the stability and usability of the product with safe optimization and quality.
A human factors scientist conducts analysis and research on human behavior. Depending on which industry they are in, they analyze human behavior relevant settings and apply that data. They also review technical data and scientific literature. They may serve as a technical consultant on some scientific boards or committees in the behavioral science field. They develop new methods and techniques to solve existential problems.
Human factors engineers and human factors scientists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Factors Engineer | Human Factors Scientist | |
| Average salary | $96,427 | $87,720 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $124,000 | Between $59,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Amazon | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a human factors engineer and a human factors scientist in terms of educational background:
| Human Factors Engineer | Human Factors Scientist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Duke University |
Here are the differences between human factors engineers' and human factors scientists' demographics:
| Human Factors Engineer | Human Factors Scientist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.9% Female, 36.1% | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 11.2% White, 68.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |