Builder demographics and statistics in the US
Builder demographics research summary. Zippia estimates builder demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our builder estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about builders after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 44,261 builders currently employed in the United States.
- 20.9% of all builders are women, while 79.1% are men.
- The average builder age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of builders is White (61.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (23.1%), Black or African American (7.8%) and Unknown (4.7%).
- Builders are most in-demand in Richmond, IN.
- The finance industry is the highest-paying for builders.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $48,570, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women builders earned 100% of what men earned.
- 2% of all builders are LGBT.
- Minnesota is the best state for builders to live.
- Builders are 76% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Builder demographics by:
Builder gender statistics
20.9% of builders are women and 79.1% of builders are men.
- Male, 79.1%
- Female, 20.9%
Builder gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 79.1% |
| Female | 20.9% |
Builder gender pay gap
Women earn 100¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$33,709
Female income
$33,667
Builder gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in builder positions over time. Currently, 20.9% of builders are female.
Builder gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 79.63% | 20.37% |
| 2011 | 83.90% | 16.10% |
| 2012 | 80.12% | 19.88% |
| 2013 | 82.45% | 17.55% |
| 2014 | 77.67% | 22.33% |
| 2015 | 80.17% | 19.83% |
| 2016 | 76.19% | 23.81% |
| 2017 | 73.09% | 26.91% |
| 2018 | 74.92% | 25.08% |
| 2019 | 76.42% | 23.58% |
| 2020 | 76.29% | 23.71% |
| 2021 | 79.14% | 20.86% |
Builder related jobs gender ratio
We compared builders 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% |
| Builder | 79% | 21% |
| 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%
Builder demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among builders is White, which makes up 61.7% of all builders. Comparatively, 23.1% of builders are Hispanic or Latino and 7.8% of builders are Black or African American.
- White, 61.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 23.1%
- Black or African American, 7.8%
- Unknown, 4.7%
- Asian, 1.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Builder race
| Builder race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 61.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 23.1% |
| Black or African American | 7.8% |
| Unknown | 4.7% |
| Asian | 1.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Builder race and ethnicity over time
See how builder racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Builder race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.74% | 8.15% | 1.63% | 17.33% |
| 2011 | 68.94% | 8.54% | 1.62% | 17.31% |
| 2012 | 68.75% | 8.53% | 1.74% | 17.18% |
| 2013 | 68.29% | 7.90% | 1.63% | 18.45% |
| 2014 | 67.45% | 8.25% | 1.54% | 19.49% |
| 2015 | 67.13% | 8.05% | 1.80% | 19.62% |
| 2016 | 66.01% | 8.11% | 1.65% | 20.57% |
| 2017 | 64.58% | 8.45% | 1.62% | 21.63% |
| 2018 | 65.19% | 7.32% | 1.78% | 22.39% |
| 2019 | 66.63% | 7.41% | 1.82% | 20.85% |
| 2020 | 64.64% | 8.24% | 1.78% | 19.92% |
| 2021 | 61.71% | 7.81% | 1.65% | 23.05% |
Builder wage gap by race
According to our data, asian builders have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american builders have the lowest average salary at $32,379.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $34,108 |
| White | $34,527 |
| Black or African American | $32,379 |
| Asian | $34,687 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $32,907 |
Average builder age
See how the average age of builders varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Builder age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 43 | |
| Unknown | 41 | |
| Asian | 39.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 37 |
| White | 43 | 40 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 45.5 |
Builder age breakdown
The average age of builders is 40+ years years old, representing 56% of the builder population.
Builder age breakdown
| Builder Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 56% |
| 30-40 years | 26% |
| 20-30 years | 17% |
Builder educational attainment
The most common degree for builders is high school diploma, with 34% of builders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 32% and bachelor's degree degree at 16%.
- High School Diploma, 34%
- Bachelor's, 32%
- Associate, 16%
- Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Builders by degree level
| Builder degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 34% |
| Bachelor's | 32% |
| Associate | 16% |
| Diploma | 9% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
Builder jobs you might like
Builder wage gap by degree level
According to the data, builders with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $34,569 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, builders earn a median annual income of $33,832 compared to $33,222 for builders with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $33,222 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $33,832 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $34,569 |
Builder employment statistics
Most builders work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where builders work
Below, you can see the size of companies where builders work.
Builder jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 20% |
Builder jobs by company type
Employees with the builder job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most builders prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Builder jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 20% |
| Private | 76% |
| Government | 3% |
Builder jobs by industry
The most common industries for builders are manufacturing, construction and professional.
Builder industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Construction | 13% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Retail | 9% |
| Automotive | 6% |
| Transportation | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Builder turnover and employment statistics
Builder unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for builders between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Builder unemployment rate by year
| Year | Builder unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 20.96% |
| 2011 | 18.39% |
| 2012 | 15.75% |
| 2013 | 12.57% |
| 2014 | 9.77% |
| 2015 | 8.13% |
| 2016 | 7.33% |
| 2017 | 6.28% |
| 2018 | 5.26% |
| 2019 | 5.00% |
| 2020 | 8.80% |
| 2021 | 7.82% |
Average builder tenure
The average builder stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 19,537 builders resumes in Zippia's database.
Builder tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 34% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Builder LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of builders 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Reliner | 1.40% | 36 |
| Drywall Hanger, Framer | 1.75% | 614 |
| Construction Apprentice | 2.24% | 40,760 |
| Builder | 2.31% | - |
| Signaler | 2.76% | 71 |
| Tile Conduit Layer | 3.39% | 341 |
| Gutter Installer | 4.07% | 15,110 |
Similar builder jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Reliner | 1.40% | 36 |
| Drywall Hanger, Framer | 1.75% | 614 |
| Construction Apprentice | 2.24% | 40,760 |
| Signaler | 2.76% | 71 |
| Tile Conduit Layer | 3.39% | 341 |
| Gutter Installer | 4.07% | 15,110 |
Foreign languages spoken by builders
The most common foreign language among builders is Spanish at 65.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.4% and Mandarin is the third-most popular at 3.2%.
- Spanish, 65.9%
- French, 7.4%
- Mandarin, 3.2%
- Chinese, 2.6%
- Russian, 2.6%
- Other, 18.3%
Builder languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 65.9% |
| French | 7.4% |
| Mandarin | 3.2% |
| Chinese | 2.6% |
| Russian | 2.6% |
| Other | 18.3% |
