Child life therapist demographics and statistics in the US
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Child life therapist demographics by:
Child life therapist gender statistics
65.0% of child life therapists are women and 35.0% of child life therapists are men.
- Female, 65.0%
- Male, 35.0%
Child life therapist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 65.0% |
| Male | 35.0% |
Child life therapist gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,845
Female income
$44,301
Child life therapist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in child life therapist positions over time. Currently, 65.0% of child life therapists are female.
Child life therapist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 31.00% | 69.00% |
| 2011 | 27.35% | 72.65% |
| 2012 | 30.65% | 69.35% |
| 2013 | 27.85% | 72.15% |
| 2014 | 28.80% | 71.20% |
| 2015 | 28.57% | 71.43% |
| 2016 | 29.47% | 70.53% |
| 2017 | 32.52% | 67.48% |
| 2018 | 29.50% | 70.50% |
| 2019 | 30.60% | 69.40% |
| 2020 | 33.67% | 66.33% |
| 2021 | 34.99% | 65.01% |
Child life therapist related jobs gender ratio
We compared child life therapists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, flight surgeon and optometrist, owner have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse Midwife | 2% | 98% |
| Perinatal Nurse | 3% | 97% |
| Therapeutic Dietitian | 3% | 97% |
| Child Life Therapist | 35% | 65% |
| Radiology Resident | 75% | 25% |
| Optometrist, Owner | 76% | 24% |
| Flight Surgeon | 82% | 18% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Child life therapist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among child life therapists is White, which makes up 72.5% of all child life therapists. Comparatively, 11.2% of child life therapists are Asian and 8.0% of child life therapists are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 72.5%
- Asian, 11.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 8.0%
- Black or African American, 4.0%
- Unknown, 3.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Child life therapist race
| Child life therapist race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 72.5% |
| Asian | 11.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.0% |
| Black or African American | 4.0% |
| Unknown | 3.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Child life therapist race and ethnicity over time
See how child life therapist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Child life therapist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 78.90% | 3.91% | 9.37% | 6.04% |
| 2011 | 79.40% | 4.68% | 8.42% | 6.10% |
| 2012 | 76.69% | 5.10% | 9.98% | 6.46% |
| 2013 | 77.24% | 4.14% | 9.87% | 6.58% |
| 2014 | 77.40% | 4.66% | 9.41% | 6.42% |
| 2015 | 77.18% | 4.48% | 9.27% | 6.48% |
| 2016 | 77.06% | 4.71% | 9.92% | 6.67% |
| 2017 | 77.96% | 3.86% | 9.37% | 7.07% |
| 2018 | 77.04% | 3.77% | 10.39% | 6.85% |
| 2019 | 76.22% | 4.19% | 10.58% | 6.44% |
| 2020 | 74.70% | 4.14% | 10.18% | 7.65% |
| 2021 | 72.51% | 4.01% | 11.23% | 7.97% |
Child life therapist wage gap by race
According to our data, asian child life therapists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american child life therapists have the lowest average salary at $45,121.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $46,249 |
| White | $46,510 |
| Black or African American | $45,121 |
| Asian | $49,280 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,165 |
Average child life therapist age
See how the average age of child life therapists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Child life therapist age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 38 | 40 |
| White | 40 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 44 | 38 |
| Asian | 41 | 40 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36.5 | 39 |
Child life therapist age breakdown
The average age of child life therapists is 40+ years years old, representing 52% of the child life therapist population.
Child life therapist age breakdown
| Child Life Therapist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 52% |
| 30-40 years | 36% |
| 20-30 years | 12% |
Child life therapist educational attainment
The most common degree for child life therapists is bachelor's degree, with 57% of child life therapists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 13%.
- Bachelor's, 57%
- Associate, 14%
- Master's, 13%
- High School Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Child life therapists by degree level
| Child life therapist degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 57% |
| Associate | 14% |
| Master's | 13% |
| High School Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Child life therapist jobs you might like
Child life therapist wage gap by degree level
According to the data, child life therapists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $55,085 annually. With a Doctorate degree, child life therapists earn a median annual income of $53,540 compared to $51,721 for child life therapists with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $55,085 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $51,721 |
| Doctorate Degree | $53,540 |
Child life therapist employment statistics
Company size where child life therapists work
Below, you can see the size of companies where child life therapists work.
Child life therapist jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 11% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 14% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 40% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Child life therapist turnover and employment statistics
Child life therapist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for child life therapists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Child life therapist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Child life therapist unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.98% |
| 2011 | 0.87% |
| 2012 | 1.18% |
| 2013 | 0.95% |
| 2014 | 0.81% |
| 2015 | 0.54% |
| 2016 | 0.64% |
| 2017 | 0.42% |
| 2018 | 0.50% |
| 2019 | 0.84% |
| 2020 | 1.69% |
| 2021 | 1.49% |
Average child life therapist tenure
The average child life therapist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 342 child life therapists resumes in Zippia's database.
Child life therapist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 44% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 10% |
| 8-10 years | 2% |
| 11+ years | 2% |
Child life therapist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of child life therapists 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist | 9.88% | 39,100 |
| Oral Surgery Assistant-Clinical Coordinator | 11.62% | 79,268 |
| Child Life Therapist | 11.89% | - |
| Educational Therapist | 13.00% | 23,538 |
| Primary Care Physician | 13.05% | 130,606 |
| Eye Clinic Manager | 17.57% | 15,789 |
| Staff Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 72,711 |
Similar child life therapist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist | 9.88% | 39,100 |
| Oral Surgery Assistant-Clinical Coordinator | 11.62% | 79,268 |
| Educational Therapist | 13.00% | 23,538 |
| Primary Care Physician | 13.05% | 130,606 |
| Eye Clinic Manager | 17.57% | 15,789 |
| Staff Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 72,711 |
Foreign languages spoken by child life therapists
The most common foreign language among child life therapists is Spanish at 27.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 27.3% and Hebrew is the third-most popular at 18.2%.
- Spanish, 27.3%
- French, 27.3%
- Hebrew, 18.2%
- Chinese, 9.1%
- Japanese, 9.1%
- Other, 9.0%
Child life therapist languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 27.3% |
| French | 27.3% |
| Hebrew | 18.2% |
| Chinese | 9.1% |
| Japanese | 9.1% |
| Other | 9.0% |