Apprentice demographics and statistics in the US
Apprentice demographics research summary. Zippia estimates apprentice demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our apprentice estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about apprentices after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 199,213 apprentices currently employed in the United States.
- 21.6% of all apprentices are women, while 78.4% are men.
- The average apprentice age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of apprentices is White (64.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (20.3%), Black or African American (7.9%) and Unknown (4.2%).
- In 2022, women earned 97% of what men earned.
- 3% of all apprentices are LGBT.
- Apprentices are 76% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Apprentice demographics by:
Apprentice gender statistics
21.6% of apprentices are women and 78.4% of apprentices are men.
- Male, 78.4%
- Female, 21.6%
Apprentice gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 78.4% |
| Female | 21.6% |
Apprentice gender pay gap
Women earn 97¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$36,436
Female income
$35,316
Apprentice gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in apprentice positions over time. Currently, 21.6% of apprentices are female.
Apprentice gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 82.46% | 17.54% |
| 2011 | 82.77% | 17.23% |
| 2012 | 82.26% | 17.74% |
| 2013 | 83.49% | 16.51% |
| 2014 | 81.95% | 18.05% |
| 2015 | 78.51% | 21.49% |
| 2016 | 82.40% | 17.60% |
| 2017 | 81.10% | 18.90% |
| 2018 | 78.22% | 21.78% |
| 2019 | 82.20% | 17.80% |
| 2020 | 81.22% | 18.78% |
| 2021 | 78.44% | 21.56% |
Apprentice related jobs gender ratio
We compared apprentices with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Apprentice | 78% | 22% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Apprentice demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among apprentices is White, which makes up 64.5% of all apprentices. Comparatively, 20.3% of apprentices are Hispanic or Latino and 7.9% of apprentices are Black or African American.
- White, 64.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 20.3%
- Black or African American, 7.9%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- Asian, 2.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Apprentice race
| Apprentice race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 64.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 20.3% |
| Black or African American | 7.9% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| Asian | 2.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Apprentice race and ethnicity over time
See how apprentice racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Apprentice race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.25% | 8.42% | 2.13% | 15.94% |
| 2011 | 70.61% | 8.76% | 2.16% | 15.94% |
| 2012 | 70.47% | 8.66% | 2.21% | 16.06% |
| 2013 | 69.70% | 8.76% | 2.19% | 16.74% |
| 2014 | 69.97% | 8.95% | 2.04% | 16.78% |
| 2015 | 69.17% | 9.17% | 2.19% | 16.77% |
| 2016 | 69.19% | 8.44% | 2.07% | 17.58% |
| 2017 | 67.10% | 8.29% | 2.44% | 19.51% |
| 2018 | 68.50% | 8.02% | 1.99% | 18.83% |
| 2019 | 69.26% | 7.69% | 2.16% | 18.47% |
| 2020 | 65.81% | 8.35% | 2.06% | 18.56% |
| 2021 | 64.54% | 7.91% | 2.20% | 20.25% |
Apprentice wage gap by race
According to our data, asian apprentices have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino apprentices have the lowest average salary at $34,978.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $36,393 |
| White | $37,756 |
| Black or African American | $35,050 |
| Asian | $38,122 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $34,978 |
Average apprentice age
See how the average age of apprentices varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Apprentice age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 52 |
| Unknown | 40 | |
| Asian | 43 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 38 | 36 |
| White | 42 | 41 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 36.5 |
Apprentice age breakdown
The average age of apprentices is 40+ years years old, representing 55% of the apprentice population.
Apprentice age breakdown
| Apprentice Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 55% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 18% |
Apprentice educational attainment
The most common degree for apprentices is bachelor's degree, with 38% of apprentices earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 30% and high school diploma degree at 18%.
- Bachelor's, 38%
- High School Diploma, 30%
- Associate, 18%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Apprentices by degree level
| Apprentice degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 38% |
| High School Diploma | 30% |
| Associate | 18% |
| Diploma | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Apprentice jobs you might like
Apprentice wage gap by degree level
According to the data, apprentices with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $39,024 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, apprentices earn a median annual income of $37,422 compared to $36,301 for apprentices with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,301 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $37,422 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,024 |
Apprentice employment statistics
Most apprentices work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where apprentices work
Below, you can see the size of companies where apprentices work.
Apprentice jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 29% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 21% |
| > 10,000 employees | 15% |
Apprentice jobs by company type
Employees with the apprentice job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most apprentices prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Apprentice jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 6% |
| Public | 16% |
| Private | 76% |
| Government | 3% |
Apprentice jobs by industry
The most common industries for apprentices are construction, manufacturing and professional.
Apprentice industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 25% |
| Manufacturing | 10% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Non Profits | 6% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Energy | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Utilities | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Apprentice turnover and employment statistics
Apprentice unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for apprentices between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Apprentice unemployment rate by year
| Year | Apprentice unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 15.50% |
| 2011 | 12.66% |
| 2012 | 9.65% |
| 2013 | 7.94% |
| 2014 | 6.08% |
| 2015 | 4.67% |
| 2016 | 4.49% |
| 2017 | 3.48% |
| 2018 | 2.92% |
| 2019 | 2.81% |
| 2020 | 4.62% |
| 2021 | 4.91% |
Average apprentice tenure
The average apprentice stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 43,489 apprentices resumes in Zippia's database.
Apprentice tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 37% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 11% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 3% |
Apprentice LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of apprentices that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Erector | 1.40% | 46 |
| Hot Tar Roofer | 1.43% | 1,449 |
| Acoustical Ceiling Mechanic | 1.75% | 33,392 |
| Mixing Plant Dumper | 2.24% | 8,715 |
| Apprentice | 2.76% | - |
| Acoustical Material Worker | 3.39% | 38,252 |
| Tinker | 4.07% | 960 |
Similar apprentice jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Erector | 1.40% | 46 |
| Hot Tar Roofer | 1.43% | 1,449 |
| Acoustical Ceiling Mechanic | 1.75% | 33,392 |
| Mixing Plant Dumper | 2.24% | 8,715 |
| Acoustical Material Worker | 3.39% | 38,252 |
| Tinker | 4.07% | 960 |
Foreign languages spoken by apprentices
The most common foreign language among apprentices is Spanish at 54.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.1% and German is the third-most popular at 7.7%.
- Spanish, 54.8%
- French, 11.1%
- German, 7.7%
- Chinese, 3.5%
- Italian, 3.5%
- Other, 19.4%
Apprentice languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 54.8% |
| French | 11.1% |
| German | 7.7% |
| Chinese | 3.5% |
| Italian | 3.5% |
| Other | 19.4% |
