Ergonomist Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an ergonomist. Ergonomists usually study industrial engineering, kinesiology, or mechanical engineering. 64% of ergonomists hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 62 real ergonomist resumes to see exactly what ergonomist education sections show.

The most common colleges for ergonomists are the West Virginia University and the West Virginia University.

There are also many online ergonomist courses to help get the education required to be an ergonomist.

What education do you need to become an ergonomist?

What degree do you need to be an ergonomist?

The most common degree for ergonomists is bachelor's degree, with 64% of ergonomists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 18% and master's degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 64%
  • Master's, 18%
  • Doctorate, 8%
  • Associate, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become an ergonomist?

You should major in industrial engineering to become an ergonomist. 17% of ergonomists major in industrial engineering. Other common majors for an ergonomist include kinesiology and mechanical engineering.

Most common colleges for ergonomists

Ergonomists often get their degrees at West Virginia University, Emory University, and University of Utah. Here are the most common colleges for ergonomists in the US based on their resumes.
Ergonomist Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
West Virginia University8.70%
Emory University8.70%
University of Utah8.70%
Kettering University4.35%
Purdue University4.35%

Best majors for ergonomists

Best colleges for ergonomists

The best colleges for ergonomists are Northeastern University, University of Southern California, and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

An ergonomist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for ergonomists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become ergonomists.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-State Tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

Website

https://umich.edu/

Address

2074 Fleming Administration Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $16,010 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.83%
SAT Average - 1434
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Kinesiology
Industrial Engineering
Public Health

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Public Health
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Kinesiology

3. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,522

Enrollment

13,760

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Kinesiology
Public Health

4. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-State Tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

Website

uconn.edu/

Address

352 Mansfield Rd. Unit 2048, Storrs, CT 06269-2048

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,800 per year

Net Price: $21,588 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 48.77%
SAT Average - 1318
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Kinesiology
Public Health
Industrial Engineering

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

Website

www.washington.edu

Address

P.O. Box 351230, Seattle, WA 98195-4550

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,300 per year

Net Price: $12,001 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 48.69%
SAT Average - 1347
ACT Average - 30
Most Popular Majors
Public Health
Mechanical Engineering
Chemistry
Industrial Engineering

20 best online courses for ergonomists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for ergonomists

The most affordable schools for ergonomists are SUNY Farmingdale, brigham young university, and florida state university.

If the best universities for ergonomists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for ergonomists.

1. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Kinesiology
Psychology
Economics

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Website

www.byu.edu

Address

Main Campus, Provo, UT 84602

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,600 per year

Net Price: $13,181 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 64.47%
SAT Average - 1324
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Kinesiology
Public Health
Chemistry

3. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

Website

www.fsu.edu

Address

222 South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1470

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,700 per year

Net Price: $10,744 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.78%
SAT Average - 1289
ACT Average - 28
Most Popular Majors
Kinesiology
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Public Health

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$4,094

Cost of Attendance

14,302

Website

https://www.uprm.edu

Address

Call Box 9000, Mayaguez, PR 00681

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,700 per year

Net Price: $8,584 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.51%

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Kinesiology
Chemistry
Public Health

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for ergonomists

The hardest universities for ergonomists to get into are Northeastern University, University of Southern California, and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

Some great schools for ergonomists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for ergonomists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

Website

www.northeastern.edu

Address

360 Huntington Ave, 110CH, Boston, MA 02115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,800 per year

Net Price: $31,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.34%
SAT Average - 1466
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Kinesiology
Public Health

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Public Health
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Kinesiology

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions Rate

23%

SAT Average

1,434

Website

https://umich.edu/

Address

2074 Fleming Administration Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1340

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $16,010 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.83%
SAT Average - 1434
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Mechanical Engineering
Kinesiology
Industrial Engineering
Public Health

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

6%

SAT Average

1,512

Website

www.columbia.edu

Address

535 West 116th Street, New York, NY 10027

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $77,900 per year

Net Price: $22,637 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 5.91%
SAT Average - 1512
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Public Health
Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Kinesiology

5. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

32%

SAT Average

1,365

Website

www.miami.edu/

Address

1252 Memorial Drive, 230 Ashe Bldg., Coral Gables, FL 33124-4600

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $54,500 per year

Net Price: $30,841 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.15%
SAT Average - 1365
ACT Average - 31
Most Popular Majors
Kinesiology
Industrial Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Public Health

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for ergonomists

The easiest schools for ergonomists to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, wayland baptist university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an ergonomist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for ergonomists.

1. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.gmercyu.edu/

Address

1325 Sumneytown Pike, P. O. Box 901, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0901

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $48,000 per year

Net Price: $23,213 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.00%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Business
Educational Leadership
Psychology
Communication

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

1,003

Website

www.wbu.edu

Address

1900 W 7th St., Plainview, TX 79072

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,300 per year

Net Price: $21,855 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.04%
SAT Average - 1003
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Education
Kinesiology
Psychology
Chemistry

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Website

www.hnu.edu

Address

3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-1699

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,000 per year

Net Price: $23,175 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 70.04%
SAT Average - 849
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Kinesiology
Psychology
Educational Leadership

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

999

Website

www.felician.edu

Address

262 S Main St, Lodi, NJ 07644

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,800 per year

Net Price: $17,362 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 80.55%
SAT Average - 999
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Communication
Educational Leadership

5. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Industrial Engineering
Kinesiology
Psychology
Public Health

Average ergonomist salary by education level

According to our data, ergonomists with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $80,999 annually. Ergonomists with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $62,914.
Ergonomist education level
ascdesc
Ergonomist salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$80,999
High School Diploma or Less$51,544
Bachelor's Degree$62,914
Some College/ Associate Degree$61,079

Ergonomist Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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