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Human Behavior Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Senior Human Factors Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

You will work at the intersection of human behavior science, systems thinking, and product strategy to ensure our experiences are grounded in evidence and centered on people. Description This team ...

AlohaWMS

Human Resource Manager

Temecula, CA

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment ...

Apple

Senior Human Factors Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

You will work at the intersection of human behavior science, systems thinking, and product strategy to ensure our experiences are grounded in evidence and centered on people. Description This team ...

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How much do human behavior jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for human behavior in California is $28.86, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.71 and $33.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is human behavior?

Human behavior refers to the range of actions, reactions, and mannerisms exhibited by individuals or groups in response to internal and external stimuli. It encompasses everything from basic biological responses to complex social interactions and cultural practices. Psychologists, sociologists, and other researchers study human behavior to better understand how people think, feel, and act in various situations, which can help improve mental health, workplace dynamics, education, and more.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a behavioral scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Behavioral Scientist, you need a solid background in psychology, research methodology, and data analysis, often supported by an advanced degree in behavioral sciences or a related field. Familiarity with statistical software (such as SPSS or R), survey platforms, and experimental design is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, communication skills, and curiosity help individuals excel at interpreting data and conveying insights to diverse audiences. These skills and qualifications are crucial for developing evidence-based interventions and effectively influencing human behavior in various settings.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals who analyze human behavior, and how can they effectively address them?

Professionals who analyze human behavior, such as behavioral scientists or analysts, often encounter challenges like interpreting complex data, managing ethical considerations, and minimizing personal bias in their assessments. Navigating sensitive topics and ensuring participant confidentiality are also frequent concerns. To address these challenges, it's important to employ rigorous research methodologies, participate in ongoing ethics training, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to gain diverse perspectives and maintain objectivity.

What is the difference between Human Behavior vs Psychology?

AspectHuman BehaviorPsychology
Required CredentialsNone specific, often self-taught or general interestDegree in psychology, licensure for practice
Work EnvironmentResearch, education, consulting, or personal developmentClinics, hospitals, research institutions, academic settings
Industry UsageUnderstanding and analyzing human actionsStudying mental processes, diagnosing, therapy
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding human actions and motivationsDiagnosing mental health issues, therapy, research

Human Behavior focuses on observing and analyzing how people act in various contexts, often without formal credentials. Psychology involves scientific study and clinical practice of mental processes, requiring specialized education and licensure. While both explore aspects of the mind and actions, Human Behavior is broader and more accessible, whereas Psychology is a professional discipline with specific qualifications.

What can you do with a human behavior degree?

A human behavior degree prepares individuals for careers in fields such as psychology, social work, counseling, human resources, and research. Graduates can work in settings like healthcare, education, corporate environments, or community organizations, often utilizing skills in communication, analysis, and understanding of human actions.

What cities in California are hiring for Human Behavior jobs?

Cities in California with the most Human Behavior job openings:

Human Behavior jobs near you
Infographic showing various Human Behavior job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,038 per year, or $28.9 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer - Autonomy Behavior Validation

Jobtailor

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$200 - $250/hr

Other

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Set the technical strategy and architecture for counterfactual behavior evaluation
Operationalize safety-defined attentive-human benchmarks, counterfactual simulation following human intervention, alternate-policy comparisons, and controlled scene perturbations
Convert real incidents and simulation events into executable, provenance-preserving scenarios
Implement and validate human and other road-user response models against benchmarks and requirements
Define and deploy scalable pipelines for parameter extraction, scene reconstruction, counterfactual swaps, fuzzing, simulation execution, outcome estimation, and analysis of large scenario sets
Establish validation methods for the counterfactual product and outputs, including baseline comparisons, replay and closed-course evidence, model limitations, confidence, traceability, and appropriate use of results
Lead work across Behavior, Simulation, Safety, Human Factors, Legal, Product, and Operations
Turn complex results into engineering actions, safety-case evidence, and release recommendations

Requirements
  • Master’s degree in systems engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, human factors, or a related field
  • 10 or more years of professional experience in autonomous vehicles, robotics, vehicle development, simulation, systems engineering, human factors, or safety-critical validation
  • Proven record of evaluating autonomous vehicles for a commercial fleet, launch, supervised release, or other high-consequence product decision
  • Strong understanding of human behavior modeling, driver response, perception and reaction time, vehicle dynamics, uncertainty, and the limits of model-based conclusions
  • Deep experience building or leading counterfactual, replay, crash reconstruction, incident analysis, or comparable simulation-based evaluation capabilities
  • Professional experience with simulation evaluation at scale, including scenario generation, parameter sweeps, distributed execution, reproducibility, data quality, and trade-offs between fidelity, confidence, runtime, and cost
  • Strong Python and agentic workflow experience
  • Comfort designing and reviewing production-quality analysis, simulation, and validation software and using code to investigate engineering questions
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to explain technical results, assumptions, and limitations to engineering and non-engineering stakeholders
  • Demonstrated technical leadership across organizational boundaries and evidence of setting direction beyond a single project through a methodology, platform, framework, or reusable validation capability adopted by other teams
Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in counterfactual behavior evaluation, human behavior modeling, and simulation evaluation at scale, with a strong focus on safety-critical validation and technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords
  • Counterfactual Behavior Evaluation
  • Human Behavior Modeling
  • Simulation Evaluation at Scale
  • Technical Leadership
  • Python Programming
ATS Optimization KeywordsHard Skills
  • Systems Engineering
  • Simulation Development
  • Vehicle Dynamics
  • Data Quality Analysis
  • Parameter Extraction
  • Scenario Generation
  • Crash Reconstruction
  • Incident Analysis
  • Validation Methodologies
  • Human Factors Engineering
Soft Skills
  • Strong Written Communication
  • Strong Verbal Communication
Industry Keywords
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Robotics
  • Safety-Critical Validation
  • Human Factors
  • Commercial Fleet Evaluation
Tools & Technologies
  • Simulation Software
  • Analysis Tools
  • Validation Software
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