Human Factors Career Paths

Employment areas may be in Academic Institutions, Industry, Military-related Research Centers and Independent Consulting. Some job titles include human factors engineer, ergonomist, technician specialist, safety scientist, consultant and research scientist.

There are a wide range of opportunities in the field of HF/E:

According to the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society’s Salary and Compensation Survey(2017), starting salaries for human factors and engineering psychologists with master’s degrees earn $90,164 annually in business settings, $84,500 annually in university positions, and $92,949 annually in government. Salaries are highest for those employed in the private sector; $127,135 base salary for a for-profit business.

Alumni of the CSULB Human Factors programs are currently employed at:

• Boeing
• Enterprise Rent-a-Car
• Hewlett Packard
• eBay
• XEROX, Inc.
• IBM

What our alumni have to say about this program:

Henri Battiste

“The MSHF program at CSULB was instrumental in my journey through my career as a user experience researcher. While the course work provided a structured and pivotal foundation to my understanding of human factors, the real benefit of the program to me was the focus on understanding how to acquire new knowledge and to integrate this information into a more representative model of the psychological discipline of human factors. This learned skill has continuously accelerated my career through the ability to quickly acquire and understand new information. Whether learning the fundamentals of visual basic with Dr. Strybel, to the history of the discipline with Dr. Kim Vu, to the examination of Situation Awareness with Dr. Chiappe, all the professors in the MSHF program prepared me for the field of UX and I am thankful for every minute of it.” – Henri Battiste

Timothy Diep

“The MSHF program at CSU Long Beach gave me the tools to turn my BS in Psychology into my dream job as a User Research Manager in the gaming industry. The experiences in CUDA, CHAAT, and the NASA internship gave me a taste of how Human Factors can improve products, experiences, and processes in different real-world industries, and the coursework made sure I had the skills and knowledge to break into a very competitive field. Working with Dr. Vu on writing my thesis, working in CUDA, and managing simulations in CHAAT taught me the skills I currently use to conduct research in a fast-paced product environment.”- Timothy Diep

James Cunningham

“CSULB’s MS option in Human Factors is exactly what I wanted! The program gave me the skills and experiences to critically analyze, understand, and apply human factors research across ANY domain. Unlike other programs I’ve seen and heard about, CSULB’s program puts the human component as the critical focus for the classwork. The professors effectively guide the students into deep-dives of the physiological and psychological aspects of how humans work, and then provide each student the necessary support for them to fully understand how those foundational aspects translate to the metrics and methods used by Human Factors professionals. In my opinion, this breadth of understanding has given an immeasurable boost to my career! Unlike some of the other human factors practitioners I’ve worked with, I’ve been more capable of explaining and defending the reasoning behind why a method or metric should or shouldn’t be used. I’ve also been able to consistently collect, apply, and report much more effective data for research, design, and test and evaluation. As a few other bonuses, the program benefits from being on one of most chill and beautiful southern California campuses, offers access to faculty that are as caring and supportive as the professors and carries an honored reputation that helps graduates stand out. I have and will continue to recommend the CSULB MS option in Human Factors degree for anyone who wants to be a genuine Human factors professional!”- James Cunningham

Sabrina Billinghurst

“Attending the MSHF program at Cal State Long Beach was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The rigor and quality of education is beyond what you’d expect from a CSU (at a fraction of the cost), and the professors care deeply about each individual. I was involved in the CUDA and CHAAT labs, which provided the opportunity for hands on research experience, and I carried what I learned about running simulation studies into my current position. Now I possess the unique skills and expertise that make me vital in the job market. If you’re considering applying, do it!”-Sabrina Billinghurst

To view all alumni and see their journey: MSHF Alumni