As of 2026, women represent approximately 24% of the workforce in “big tech.” This figure reflects women’s participation in tech roles across the major GAFAM companies (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft), which remains alarmingly low but aligns with national employment trends for women in technology.
Currently, women occupy 26.7% of computing-related jobs in the U.S., a decline from a peak of about 31% in 1990. The trend has persisted post-pandemic, with women in tech still facing significant challenges, including higher rates of job turnover compared to their male counterparts.
For a deeper understanding, we have analyzed the data in various ways:
Key Statistics
Among GAFAM companies, Amazon leads with 45% female representation in its overall workforce. However, specific data on women in tech roles is lacking, and only 29% of its leadership positions are held by women.
Conversely, Microsoft exhibits the lowest rates across all categories: 29% of its total workforce, 26% of its leadership, and just 23% of its tech roles are occupied by women.
Google, while having the highest percentage of women in tech among GAFAM at 25%, still shows a low overall female employment rate of 33% and only 28% in leadership roles.
Personal experiences echo these statistics, with 72% of women in tech reporting that they are outnumbered by men in meetings by at least a 2:1 ratio, with many experiencing even greater disparities.
Key Statistics About Women in Big Tech
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What percentage of tech CEOs are women?
15% of tech CEOs are women. With 37% of entry-level tech roles and only 19% of senior VP positions occupied by women, it is evident that a significant gender gap persists throughout the tech career ladder.
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What percent of technology degrees are held by women?
49.7% of technology degrees are awarded to women. This statistic encompasses all bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. Despite this near parity in education, only 25% of women transition into or remain in tech roles post-graduation.
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How many women are in the tech industry?
Approximately 1.5 million women are employed in the tech sector in the U.S. According to the latest BLS statistics, 26.7% of computer and mathematical occupations are occupied by women.
With a total of 5,688,000 Americans working in these professions, this results in around 1,490,256 women in tech roles.
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What is the ratio of men to women in the technology industry?
The gender ratio in the tech industry stands at about 3:1. This is based on the fact that only 25% of computing and mathematical jobs in the U.S. are held by women. When considering the broader tech industry, including non-tech roles at tech companies, the ratio approaches 2:1.
Regardless of the metrics used, men significantly outnumber women in technology workplaces.
References
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Census – American Community Survey Reports. “Occupations in Information Technology.” Accessed on February 23, 2022.
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey (2021).” Accessed on February 23, 2022.
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Zippia. “Women In Technology Statistics.” Accessed on February 23, 2022.
Author
Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.
