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The differences between human factors specialists and employment specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a human factors specialist and an employment specialist. Additionally, a human factors specialist has an average salary of $80,877, which is higher than the $39,530 average annual salary of an employment specialist.
The top three skills for a human factors specialist include user research, user interface and industrial design. The most important skills for an employment specialist are customer service, rehabilitation, and mental health.
| Human Factors Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $80,877 | $39,530 |
| Hourly rate | $38.88 | $19.00 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 40,805 | 59,757 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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 employment specialist deals with job applicants to match their talents to a specific job that properly suits them. Employment specialists assist applicants or the unemployed by testing their skills, conducting mock interviews, and creating a proper resume. They can work separately within a company or be part of the human resources department to assist in the hiring process. Employment specialists are often tasked to handle company layoffs and act as the liaison officer between the employer and the Department of Labor.
Human factors specialists and employment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Human Factors Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $80,877 | $39,530 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $116,000 | Between $29,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Apple | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a human factors specialist and an employment specialist in terms of educational background:
| Human Factors Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between human factors specialists' and employment specialists' demographics:
| Human Factors Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% | Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |