Working as an ergonomics engineer

If there's any workplace where ergonomic design is critical, it's a cell culture lab. Growing cells is a delicate operation that requires steady hands -- one slip and a sample is contaminated, and years of work have vanished.

Aiming to prevent just this kind of mishap, the design firm IDEO, whose engineers are known for their ergonomic products, came up with a new, more compact bottle for client Life Innovations, Inc., maker of Gibco brand supplies. The bottle has an angled neck and a wider mouth -- simple changes that nonetheless make researchers' work easier and dramatically reduce the possibility of mistakes.

It's just one example of the way ergonomics engineers often make subtle but important differences in the way we live and work.

What they do
Ergonomic engineers, sometimes called human factors engineers, are experts in how machines and other systems affect the human body. Their goal is to prevent accidents and injuries, for example from heavy lifting, awkward bending or long hours of sedentary typing and mouse clicking. The tilt of a keyboard or the height of a computer monitor might seem like minor details, but even the slightest error in their design can take a toll on the body over time -- as many people who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or chronically aching necks well know.

Ergonomics and human factors engineers design consumer products such as computer components, cars and furniture, and they also devise ergonomic solutions for industrial tools and machinery. In some cases they are responsible for overseeing the design of entire factories or offices. In addition to working as designers, they may also provide consulting services.

Their work not only protects human health, it also boosts productivity by allowing workers to last longer at their jobs. And it can reduce costs by preventing musculoskeletal injuries that can lead to workers' compensation claims.

What they need
Master's or doctoral degrees have historically been the norm for ergonomics and human factors engineers, according to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, a nonprofit membership organization. However, the group notes that a growing number of employers are advertising jobs that require only four-year degrees.

Programs of study often fall within industrial and systems engineering departments. However, human factors engineering is a complex specialty that can encompass areas such as occupational health and safety and engineering psychology.  Coursework often combines scientific and technical knowledge with the study of human behavior and motivation.

What they earn
Human factors engineers nationally earn an average $78,757 per year, with the 25th percentile at $63,980 and the 75th percentile at $108,837. That's according to CBSalary.com, which also provides salary information on related occupations in ergonomics. Ergonomic product designers pull in an average $84,003, ergonomic consultants earn $84,871, and ergonomic specialists make $84,329.

Job outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't provide employment projections specifically for human factors engineers and ergonomists, but it does track the broader category of industrial engineers. Employment of this group is expected to grow 14 percent between 2008 and 2018, faster than the average for all occupations.