Elder demographics and statistics in the US
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Elder demographics by:
Elder gender statistics
70.6% of elders are women and 29.4% of elders are men.
- Female, 70.6%
- Male, 29.4%
Elder gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 70.6% |
| Male | 29.4% |
Elder gender pay gap
Women earn 97¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$31,473
Female income
$30,628
Elder gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in elder positions over time. Currently, 70.6% of elders are female.
Elder gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 34.03% | 65.97% |
| 2011 | 33.07% | 66.93% |
| 2012 | 31.58% | 68.42% |
| 2013 | 32.69% | 67.31% |
| 2014 | 32.71% | 67.29% |
| 2015 | 30.81% | 69.19% |
| 2016 | 31.50% | 68.50% |
| 2017 | 29.92% | 70.08% |
| 2018 | 32.49% | 67.51% |
| 2019 | 31.93% | 68.07% |
| 2020 | 31.61% | 68.39% |
| 2021 | 29.35% | 70.65% |
Elder related jobs gender ratio
We compared elders with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, catholic priest and imam have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Director Of Preschool | 5% | 95% |
| Deaconess | 8% | 92% |
| Christian Science Nurse | 15% | 85% |
| Elder | 29% | 71% |
| Music Pastor | 93% | 7% |
| Imam | 94% | 6% |
| Catholic Priest | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Elder demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among elders is White, which makes up 67.6% of all elders. Comparatively, 12.0% of elders are Black or African American and 9.2% of elders are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 67.6%
- Black or African American, 12.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.2%
- Asian, 6.7%
- Unknown, 4.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Elder race
| Elder race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.6% |
| Black or African American | 12.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.2% |
| Asian | 6.7% |
| Unknown | 4.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Elder race and ethnicity over time
See how elder racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Elder race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.61% | 10.57% | 5.37% | 6.90% |
| 2011 | 72.69% | 10.84% | 6.60% | 7.83% |
| 2012 | 73.95% | 10.85% | 5.92% | 7.20% |
| 2013 | 73.59% | 11.26% | 5.99% | 7.48% |
| 2014 | 72.53% | 10.64% | 6.26% | 8.28% |
| 2015 | 73.13% | 11.22% | 5.92% | 7.79% |
| 2016 | 71.74% | 11.27% | 7.09% | 8.16% |
| 2017 | 71.46% | 10.33% | 6.90% | 8.95% |
| 2018 | 73.24% | 10.05% | 6.26% | 8.33% |
| 2019 | 72.24% | 10.92% | 6.23% | 8.63% |
| 2020 | 69.67% | 10.81% | 7.52% | 8.18% |
| 2021 | 67.56% | 12.05% | 6.75% | 9.19% |
Elder wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown elders have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian elders have the lowest average salary at $30,058.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $32,566 |
| White | $32,002 |
| Black or African American | $32,190 |
| Asian | $30,058 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $30,626 |
Average elder age
See how the average age of elders varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Elder age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 56 | 59.5 |
| Unknown | 45.5 | 57.5 |
| Asian | 54 | 50 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 49 |
| White | 52 | 53 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 64.5 |
Elder age breakdown
The average age of elders is 40+ years years old, representing 77% of the elder population.
Elder age breakdown
| Elder Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 77% |
| 30-40 years | 17% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Elder educational attainment
The most common degree for elders is bachelor's degree, with 48% of elders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 18% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- Bachelor's, 48%
- Associate, 18%
- High School Diploma, 12%
- Master's, 11%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Elders by degree level
| Elder degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 48% |
| Associate | 18% |
| High School Diploma | 12% |
| Master's | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Elder jobs you might like
Elder wage gap by degree level
According to the data, elders with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $33,381 annually. With a Master's degree, elders earn a median annual income of $33,009 compared to $31,328 for elders with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $33,009 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,328 |
| Doctorate Degree | $33,381 |
Elder employment statistics
Most elders work for a private in the non profits industry.
Company size where elders work
Below, you can see the size of companies where elders work.
Elder jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 50 - 100 employees | 38% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 27% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 15% |
| > 10,000 employees | 8% |
Elder jobs by company type
Employees with the elder job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most elders prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Elder jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 19% |
| Public | 13% |
| Private | 69% |
Elder jobs by industry
The most common industries for elders are non profits, health care and education.
Elder industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Non Profits | 32% |
| Health Care | 16% |
| Education | 12% |
| Retail | 8% |
| Construction | 8% |
| Hospitality | 8% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
Elder turnover and employment statistics
Elder unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for elders between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Elder unemployment rate by year
| Year | Elder unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.37% |
| 2011 | 1.17% |
| 2012 | 1.38% |
| 2013 | 1.26% |
| 2014 | 0.97% |
| 2015 | 0.94% |
| 2016 | 0.92% |
| 2017 | 0.69% |
| 2018 | 0.72% |
| 2019 | 0.96% |
| 2020 | 0.99% |
| 2021 | 1.03% |
Average elder tenure
The average elder stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,216 elders resumes in Zippia's database.
Elder tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 19% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 13% |
Elder LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of elders 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Counselor | 8.30% | 76,594 |
| Verger | 10.45% | 35 |
| Educational Programs Coordinator | 13.09% | 40,000 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Elder | 15.69% | - |
| Adult Ministries Director | 16.29% | 5,890 |
| Medical Social Worker | 19.71% | 87,792 |
Similar elder jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Counselor | 8.30% | 76,594 |
| Verger | 10.45% | 35 |
| Educational Programs Coordinator | 13.09% | 40,000 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Adult Ministries Director | 16.29% | 5,890 |
| Medical Social Worker | 19.71% | 87,792 |
Foreign languages spoken by elders
The most common foreign language among elders is Spanish at 41.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 17.4% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 6.5%.
- Spanish, 41.3%
- French, 17.4%
- Portuguese, 6.5%
- Hmong, 6.5%
- German, 4.3%
- Other, 24.0%
Elder languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 41.3% |
| French | 17.4% |
| Portuguese | 6.5% |
| Hmong | 6.5% |
| German | 4.3% |
| Other | 24.0% |
