Engineering Psychologist - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming an Engineering Psychologist

A career as an engineering psychologist may not necessarily involve counseling individuals. However, it does provide opportunities to help people on a much larger scale. This field is an exciting choice for those with knowledge of how things work and an interest in improving human comforts.

Job Description

Engineering psychology is a fairly new discipline. The definition of engineering psychologist is a sub-category of "human factors" engineering, which began during World War II. Airplane designers at that time were striving to make their products safer and more engaging for pilots. Over time, engineering psychology branched out to other disciplines including personal computers. Interactivity, perception and user interface bloomed as an area of expertise.
 
Office chair and desk designs were soon included and the terms "ergonomics" and "biomechanics" were coined. Today, two main areas provide an overlapping course:
  • Human factors engineering generally refers to product.
  • "Human computer interface" (HCI) is software-related.
Engineering psychologists combine a thorough understanding of multiple disciplines in their work. In industry, when a design becomes a prototype, testing goes beyond serviceability to explore ergonomics and the "human factor." Interaction between consumers and products, and how the products are perceived by consumers are both examined. In most cases, the focus is on making products safer and easier to use. Companies also employ engineering psychologists to help make their particular brands more appealing to the public.
 
In addition to understanding the human mind, engineering psychologists must be analytical. They must be able to conduct research, create and compile statistics and use a team approach while solving problems. Engineering psychologists must remain professional at all times, viewing each task through the user's eyes, uninfluenced by their own opinions and observations.
 
The engineering psychologist must consider many factors during the course of design. Here are just a few of the challenges that a professional must face to bring a product to market:
  • Feedback: creating focus groups and studying responses to products or software from a psychological and physical standpoint
  • Human Error: reducing risks by creating easily understood designs while eliminating confusion, especially in the course of quick action
  • Perception: applying psychological knowledge to how users perceive and understand a product and its use
  • Profiling: the task of branding targeted products and their scope of use among various age, gender and social environments.

Opportunities exist for engineering psychologists in three main areas:

  • academia
  • government
  • private sector.

Salary Guide

The private sector provides the greatest salary opportunities, while teaching is on the lower end of the scale. For government and business, salaries at mid-range are in six figures, with academic jobs averaging $90,000.

Education and Training

Educational requirements are as diverse as the jobs. It is important to seek out courses and internships that involve hands-on training in such areas as flight or computer programming. Undergraduates come from all disciplines, but they must attend a Doctoral program that is HFES (Human Factor and Ergonomic Society) accredited. Doctoral education may encompass interdisciplinary coursework with a focus on experimental psychology.
 
It is also possible to find employment with a Master's degree. However, fields may be narrower with less opportunity to apply specific skills.

Prior Work Experience

Engineering psychologists come from all walks of life. Prior work experience for engineering psychologist jobs could include any engineering work. Other relevant experience could be in computer programming and even Web design. For a specific career path, hands-on experience with a particular product or production area is useful.

Career Advancement

Job expansion continues as industries seek to make products user-friendly. Corporate leaders and managers understand the importance of seeking professional input during the design and development phases. They also understand that these processes are often beyond the scope of an engineer's or developer's job.
 
The medical field is a steadily growing area for engineering psychologists. Medical equipment development includes expansion into robotics-assisted machines. Psychological expertise is required to ensure that trained professionals and equipment operate efficiently together and with minimal risk to the patient.
 
Developers realize that employing an engineering psychologist results in major cost savings by reducing customer dissatisfaction and product redesign. The state of the economy affects job prospects, with the majority remaining in the private sector. In general, growth and advancement remain strong.

Related Associations and Groups

Engineering psychologists can take advantage of a variety of national associations and groups available to them, including:
  • APA (American Psychological Association) Division 21
  • HFES (Human Factors and Ergonomics Society)
  • IEA (International Ergonomics Association).

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