Controller demographics and statistics in the US
Controller demographics research summary. Zippia estimates controller demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our controller estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about controllers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 201,768 controllers currently employed in the United States.
- 41.1% of all controllers are women, while 58.9% are men.
- The average controller age is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of controllers is White (63.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.8%), Asian (9.4%) and Black or African American (7.7%).
- In 2022, women earned 92% of what men earned.
- 11% of all controllers are LGBT.
- Controllers are 59% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Controller demographics by:
Controller gender statistics
41.1% of controllers are women and 58.9% of controllers are men.
- Male, 58.9%
- Female, 41.1%
Controller gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 58.9% |
| Female | 41.1% |
Controller gender pay gap
Women earn 92¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$105,118
Female income
$96,421
Controller gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in controller positions over time. Currently, 41.1% of controllers are female.
Controller gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 61.18% | 38.82% |
| 2011 | 61.17% | 38.83% |
| 2012 | 62.47% | 37.53% |
| 2013 | 60.57% | 39.43% |
| 2014 | 61.25% | 38.75% |
| 2015 | 61.51% | 38.49% |
| 2016 | 61.31% | 38.69% |
| 2017 | 62.75% | 37.25% |
| 2018 | 60.19% | 39.81% |
| 2019 | 58.65% | 41.35% |
| 2020 | 59.23% | 40.77% |
| 2021 | 58.90% | 41.10% |
Controller related jobs gender ratio
We compared controllers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, general road foreman and plant superintendent have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant/Human Resources | 7% | 93% |
| Office Manager Of Human Resources | 10% | 90% |
| Business Office Manager | 15% | 85% |
| Controller | 59% | 41% |
| Maintenance Director | 97% | 3% |
| Plant Superintendent | 97% | 3% |
| General Road Foreman | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Controller demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among controllers is White, which makes up 63.7% of all controllers. Comparatively, 14.8% of controllers are Hispanic or Latino and 9.4% of controllers are Asian.
- White, 63.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.8%
- Asian, 9.4%
- Black or African American, 7.7%
- Unknown, 4.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
Controller race
| Controller race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 63.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.8% |
| Asian | 9.4% |
| Black or African American | 7.7% |
| Unknown | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3% |
Controller race and ethnicity over time
See how controller racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Controller race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 70.32% | 8.17% | 7.25% | 12.62% |
| 2011 | 69.93% | 8.28% | 7.44% | 12.46% |
| 2012 | 69.26% | 8.40% | 7.77% | 12.68% |
| 2013 | 68.06% | 8.45% | 8.49% | 13.00% |
| 2014 | 68.16% | 8.08% | 8.22% | 13.83% |
| 2015 | 68.01% | 8.15% | 8.31% | 13.61% |
| 2016 | 67.95% | 7.88% | 8.65% | 13.54% |
| 2017 | 67.22% | 7.91% | 8.78% | 13.93% |
| 2018 | 67.48% | 7.48% | 8.90% | 14.14% |
| 2019 | 67.67% | 7.33% | 8.92% | 14.16% |
| 2020 | 65.59% | 7.19% | 9.07% | 14.31% |
| 2021 | 63.75% | 7.69% | 9.35% | 14.77% |
Controller wage gap by race
According to our data, asian controllers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american controllers have the lowest average salary at $99,637.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $106,065 |
| White | $106,013 |
| Black or African American | $99,637 |
| Asian | $110,865 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $103,335 |
Average controller age
See how the average age of controllers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Controller age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 47 |
| Unknown | 41 | 45.5 |
| Asian | 42 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 42 |
| White | 45 | 49 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 44.5 |
Controller age breakdown
The average age of controllers is 40+ years years old, representing 68% of the controller population.
Controller age breakdown
| Controller Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 68% |
| 30-40 years | 26% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Controller educational attainment
The most common degree for controllers is bachelor's degree, with 75% of controllers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 8%.
- Bachelor's, 75%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 8%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 1%
Controllers by degree level
| Controller degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 75% |
| Master's | 14% |
| Associate | 8% |
| High School Diploma | 2% |
| Other Degrees | 1% |
Controller jobs you might like
Controller wage gap by degree level
According to the data, controllers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $132,445 annually. With a Master's degree, controllers earn a median annual income of $126,318 compared to $111,004 for controllers with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $126,318 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $90,433 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $111,004 |
| Doctorate Degree | $132,445 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $90,422 |
Controller employment statistics
Most controllers work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where controllers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where controllers work.
Controller jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 13% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 38% |
Controller jobs by company type
Employees with the controller job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most controllers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Controller jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 39% |
| Private | 59% |
| Government | 1% |
Controller jobs by industry
The most common industries for controllers are manufacturing, professional and technology.
Controller industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 16% |
| Manufacturing | 15% |
| Professional | 11% |
| Technology | 10% |
| Hospitality | 8% |
| Finance | 5% |
| Media | 4% |
| Automotive | 4% |
| Construction | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Controller turnover and employment statistics
Controller unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for controllers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Controller unemployment rate by year
| Year | Controller unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.13% |
| 2011 | 4.53% |
| 2012 | 4.16% |
| 2013 | 3.12% |
| 2014 | 2.76% |
| 2015 | 2.14% |
| 2016 | 1.85% |
| 2017 | 1.83% |
| 2018 | 1.89% |
| 2019 | 1.68% |
| 2020 | 2.20% |
| 2021 | 2.52% |
Average controller tenure
The average controller stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 73,799 controllers resumes in Zippia's database.
Controller tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 10% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 19% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Controller LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of controllers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manager Of Environmental Services | 4.78% | 92,312 |
| Assistant Terminal Manager | 5.19% | 2,180 |
| Controller | 10.51% | - |
| Senior Delivery Manager | 11.01% | 145,791 |
| Raw Material Manager | 11.39% | 24,493 |
| Learning Manager | 17.60% | 19,826 |
| Diversity Manager | 17.78% | 7,190 |
Similar controller jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Manager Of Environmental Services | 4.78% | 92,312 |
| Assistant Terminal Manager | 5.19% | 2,180 |
| Senior Delivery Manager | 11.01% | 145,791 |
| Raw Material Manager | 11.39% | 24,493 |
| Learning Manager | 17.60% | 19,826 |
| Diversity Manager | 17.78% | 7,190 |
Foreign languages spoken by controllers
The most common foreign language among controllers is Spanish at 48.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.5% and German is the third-most popular at 6.3%.
- Spanish, 48.5%
- French, 10.5%
- German, 6.3%
- Portuguese, 6.1%
- Chinese, 4.2%
- Other, 24.4%
Controller languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 48.5% |
| French | 10.5% |
| German | 6.3% |
| Portuguese | 6.1% |
| Chinese | 4.2% |
| Other | 24.4% |
