1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Ergonomist

Ergonomist

Alternative titles for this job include Human factors specialist

Ergonomists research ways to design products, workplaces or systems to suit the people who need to use them.

Average salary (a year)

£21,000 Starter

to

£60,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

between 8am and 6pm flexibly

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become an ergonomist

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course

University

You can qualify as an ergonomist by doing a degree in ergonomics.

You can also complete a degree in a related subject then take a postgraduate course in ergonomics. Related subjects include:

  • occupational therapy
  • physiotherapy
  • psychology
  • sports science
  • design engineering

You can find out more about accredited postgraduate ergonomics courses from the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

Work

If you work in industries like transport, healthcare or health and safety you may be able to complete short courses in ergonomics that will give you an insight into the field.

You can find out more from the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors.

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors for professional development training, events and networking opportunities.

Further information

You'll find more about careers and training in ergonomics from the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of psychology
  • maths knowledge
  • analytical thinking skills
  • knowledge of English language
  • complex problem-solving skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • visit workplaces and speak with clients to find out about issues that need solving
  • work with teams of professionals to develop ideas
  • design office layouts and advise on suitable furniture and equipment
  • advise on the organisation of production lines and workstations
  • design equipment and improve access for people with disabilities
  • develop equipment and systems that are easy to use and less likely to lead to problems
  • change transport design to increase the safety for the driver and passengers
  • design signs that are easy to understand
  • carry out user trials to test new designs, and provide feedback to the manufacturer or client
  • act as an expert witness in cases of industrial injury

Working environment

You could work at a client's business, in an office or at a university.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress into line management or project management.

You could move into consultancy work, or provide specialist services like workplace design or health and safety.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for an ergonomist right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Engineering Design

  • Provider: RETFORD OAKS ACADEMY
  • Start date: 01 September 2023
  • Location: Retford

Design Engineering

  • Provider: TADCASTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL
  • Start date: 04 September 2023
  • Location: Tadcaster
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturday and bank holidays

We're closed Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.