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The differences between human factors specialists and employee relations specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a human factors specialist, becoming an employee relations specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a human factors specialist has an average salary of $80,877, which is higher than the $56,574 average annual salary of an employee relations specialist.
The top three skills for a human factors specialist include user research, user interface and industrial design. The most important skills for an employee relations specialist are performance management, excellent interpersonal, and corrective action.
| Human Factors Specialist | Employee Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $80,877 | $56,574 |
| Hourly rate | $38.88 | $27.20 |
| Growth rate | 8% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 40,805 | 30,109 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A human factors specialist may also be known as an ergonomist. They work with organizations that train staff, as well as with aeronautical engineers and civil aviation regulators. They are responsible for conducting studies, carrying out evaluations and tests, and researching important information about a product or service. They must be skilled in the art of studying human behavior in different contexts and apply that skill to design objects and facilities that better human well-being and overall system performance.
An employee relations specialist is someone who identifies the recruitment needs of employers. The specialist collects and analyzes employee data, organizes and updates employee files, and oversees employee orientation and training. Employee relations specialists promote colleges' majors to employers through mass mailings, off-site employer visits, and cold calls. They help with on-campus recruitment events and manage employment opportunity posting. The skills necessary for this job include customer service, communications skills, knowledge in software applications, and attention to detail.
Human factors specialists and employee relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Factors Specialist | Employee Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $80,877 | $56,574 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $116,000 | Between $39,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Apple | Adobe |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a human factors specialist and an employee relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Human Factors Specialist | Employee Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between human factors specialists' and employee relations specialists' demographics:
| Human Factors Specialist | Employee Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 9.1% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |