Human Factors Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of human factors specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for human factors specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of human factors specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for human factors specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Human Factors Specialists?
Do human factors specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do human factors specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for human factors specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Human Factors Specialists
Jobs Postings for Human Factors Specialists By Education
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,337 (50%)
- Master's degree: 905 (19%)
- Bachelor's degree: 873 (19%)
- No Education Listed: 520 (11%)
- High School or GED: 63 (1%)
A ph.d. or professional degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of human factors specialists. According to job data, a ph.d. or professional degree was required for 50% of positions. In 19% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 19% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Human Factors Specialists
Jobs Postings for Human Factors Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 763 (46%)
- 2-3 Years: 708 (42%)
- 4-6 Years: 153 (9%)
- 7-9 Years: 24 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 27 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for human factors specialists. In 46% of job postings for Human Factors Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 42% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 9% of job postings for human factors specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Human Factors Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for human factors specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 24 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective human factors specialists, and in 2021 a total of 179,583 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective human factors specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Human Factors Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Human Factors Specialists (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. | 10,153 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| Experimental Psychology. | 3,211 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. | 10,153 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| Experimental Psychology. | 3,211 |
| Cognitive Science, General. | 2,768 |
| Psychology, Other. | 2,580 |
| Forensic Psychology. | 2,090 |
| Applied Psychology. | 2,058 |
| Educational Psychology. | 1,856 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience. | 1,383 |
| Social Psychology. | 982 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other. | 660 |
| Community Psychology. | 623 |
| Early Childhood and Family Studies. | 259 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics. | 245 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology. | 96 |
| Performance and Sport Psychology. | 72 |
| Family Psychology. | 70 |
| Comparative Psychology. | 24 |
| Transpersonal/Spiritual Psychology. | 23 |
| Personality Psychology. | 18 |
| Environmental Psychology. | 12 |
| Psychopharmacology. | 11 |
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What Skills Do Human Factors Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by human factors specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for human factors specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Human Factors Specialists
Based on 3,960 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Human Factors Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 2,695 | 68% |
| Neurology | 754 | 19% |
| Clinical Psychology | 680 | 17% |
| Neuropsychological Tests | 666 | 17% |
| Psychometrics | 611 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Human Factors Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 1,633 | 41% |
| Writing | 1,027 | 26% |
| Communications | 924 | 23% |
| Presentations | 711 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 653 | 16% |
Based on 3,960 job postings related to human factors specialists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 68% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for neurology, clinical psychology, neuropsychological tests, psychometrics and sas (software) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for human factors specialists, followed by writing, communications, presentations, problem solving and quality control.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 2,695 | 68% |
| Neurology | 754 | 19% |
| Clinical Psychology | 680 | 17% |
| Neuropsychological Tests | 666 | 17% |
| Psychometrics | 611 | 15% |
| SAS (Software) | 608 | 15% |
| Rehabilitation | 596 | 15% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 545 | 14% |
| Pediatrics | 538 | 14% |
| Clinical Neuropsychology | 537 | 14% |
| Statistical Software | 537 | 14% |
| Item Response Theory | 522 | 13% |
| R (Programming Language) | 510 | 13% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 492 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 480 | 12% |
| SPSS (Statistical Software) | 384 | 10% |
| Project Management | 379 | 10% |
| Behavioral Health | 359 | 9% |
| Neuropsychological Assessments | 350 | 9% |
| Traumatic Brain Injuries | 339 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 1,633 | 41% |
| Writing | 1,027 | 26% |
| Communications | 924 | 23% |
| Presentations | 711 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 653 | 16% |
| Quality Control | 594 | 15% |
| Management | 572 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 473 | 12% |
| Time Management | 446 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 428 | 11% |
| Planning | 404 | 10% |
| Quality Assurance | 391 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 364 | 9% |
| Critical Thinking | 354 | 9% |
| Report Writing | 337 | 9% |
| Adaptability | 326 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 308 | 8% |
| Editing | 286 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 285 | 7% |
| Teaching | 283 | 7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about human factors specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for human factors specialists.
What do human factors specialists do?
How much do human factors specialists make?
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