Ergonomist
Ergonomists research ways to design products, workplaces or systems to suit the people who use them.
Typical Salary
£30,000 – £60,000
per year
Working Hours
38–40
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As an ergonomist, you could:
- visit businesses and speak to staff about how they work
- collect and analyse workplace data
- identify issues with equipment, processes and the working environment
- advise businesses on how to improve staff wellbeing, safety and efficiency
- contribute to the re-design of equipment and systems to benefit all staff
- act as an expert witness in cases of industrial injury
Skills needed
- knowledge of psychology
- analytical thinking skills
- complex problem-solving skills
- design skills and knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- maths knowledge
- active listening skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
Career progression
With experience, you could move into line management or project management.
You might wish to specialise as a consultant in a particular industry, for example:
- robotics engineering
- healthcare and medical technology
- transport
- power generation
You could also work towards Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist status. This gives recognition of your skills and expertise in ergonomics.