Elevator operator demographics and statistics in the US
Elevator operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates elevator operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our elevator operator estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about elevator operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 9,260 elevator operators currently employed in the United States.
- 18.2% of all elevator operators are women, while 81.8% are men.
- The average elevator operator age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of elevator operators is White (73.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.8%), Black or African American (6.7%) and Unknown (4.3%).
- Elevator operators are most in-demand in Asheville, NC.
- The manufacturing industry is the highest-paying for elevator operators.
- 4% of all elevator operators are LGBT.
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Elevator operator demographics by:
Elevator operator gender statistics
18.2% of elevator operators are women and 81.8% of elevator operators are men.
- Male, 81.8%
- Female, 18.2%
Elevator operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 81.8% |
| Female | 18.2% |
Elevator operator gender pay gap
Women earn 91¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$37,967
Female income
$34,716
Elevator operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in elevator operator positions over time. Currently, 18.2% of elevator operators are female.
Elevator operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 86.80% | 13.20% |
| 2011 | 86.80% | 13.20% |
| 2012 | 82.77% | 17.23% |
| 2013 | 76.48% | 23.52% |
| 2014 | 72.93% | 27.07% |
| 2015 | 78.99% | 21.01% |
| 2016 | 79.17% | 20.83% |
| 2017 | 76.91% | 23.09% |
| 2018 | 89.65% | 10.35% |
| 2019 | 89.31% | 10.69% |
| 2020 | 80.87% | 19.13% |
| 2021 | 81.77% | 18.23% |
Elevator operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared elevator operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Wrapper | 12% | 88% |
| Gift Packer | 18% | 82% |
| Pill Packer | 19% | 81% |
| Elevator Operator | 82% | 18% |
| Green Chain Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tower Crane Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Dredge Operator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Elevator operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among elevator operators is White, which makes up 73.5% of all elevator operators. Comparatively, 13.8% of elevator operators are Hispanic or Latino and 6.7% of elevator operators are Black or African American.
- White, 73.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.8%
- Black or African American, 6.7%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
- Asian, 0.8%
Elevator operator race
| Elevator operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 73.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.8% |
| Black or African American | 6.7% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
| Asian | 0.8% |
Elevator operator race and ethnicity over time
See how elevator operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Elevator operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.50% | 12.30% | 1.10% | 14.43% |
| 2011 | 76.10% | 11.22% | 0.49% | 7.32% |
| 2012 | 70.70% | 9.77% | 0.47% | 15.81% |
| 2013 | 79.89% | 5.29% | 1.06% | 11.11% |
| 2014 | 71.88% | 10.42% | 1.04% | 15.10% |
| 2015 | 68.89% | 11.67% | 1.67% | 11.11% |
| 2016 | 61.35% | 19.04% | 1.10% | 15.34% |
| 2017 | 79.49% | 8.14% | 1.10% | 6.89% |
| 2018 | 75.85% | 7.55% | 1.51% | 12.08% |
| 2019 | 76.67% | 6.06% | 0.91% | 12.42% |
| 2020 | 78.00% | 4.40% | 2.00% | 11.60% |
| 2021 | 73.52% | 6.72% | 0.79% | 13.83% |
Elevator operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white elevator operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american elevator operators have the lowest average salary at $36,986.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $38,298 |
| White | $38,952 |
| Black or African American | $36,986 |
| Asian | $37,953 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $37,674 |
Elevator operator age breakdown
The average age of elevator operators is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the elevator operator population.
Elevator operator age breakdown
| Elevator Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 21% |
Elevator operator educational attainment
The most common degree for elevator operators is high school diploma, with 45% of elevator operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 21% and bachelor's degree degree at 19%.
- High School Diploma, 45%
- Bachelor's, 21%
- Associate, 19%
- Diploma, 8%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Elevator operators by degree level
| Elevator operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 45% |
| Bachelor's | 21% |
| Associate | 19% |
| Diploma | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Elevator operator jobs you might like
Elevator operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, elevator operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $38,820 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, elevator operators earn a median annual income of $38,282 compared to $37,695 for elevator operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,695 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $38,282 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $38,820 |
Elevator operator employment statistics
Most elevator operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where elevator operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where elevator operators work.
Elevator operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 25% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Elevator operator jobs by company type
Employees with the elevator operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most elevator operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Elevator operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 73% |
| Government | 2% |
Elevator operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for elevator operators are manufacturing, professional and construction.
Elevator operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 14% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Construction | 9% |
| Retail | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 9% |
| Hospitality | 6% |
| Transportation | 5% |
| Finance | 5% |
| Real Estate | 5% |
| Media | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Agriculture | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Government | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Elevator operator turnover and employment statistics
Elevator operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for elevator operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Elevator operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Elevator operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 11.11% |
| 2011 | 15.91% |
| 2012 | 15.69% |
| 2013 | 7.84% |
| 2014 | 9.80% |
| 2015 | 9.32% |
| 2016 | 7.89% |
| 2017 | 5.51% |
| 2018 | 5.09% |
| 2019 | 4.17% |
| 2020 | 8.11% |
| 2021 | 5.12% |
Average elevator operator tenure
The average elevator operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,344 elevator operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Elevator operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 35% |
| 1-2 years | 27% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Elevator operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of elevator operators 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mixer Crane Operator | 1.94% | 27,226 |
| Forklift Driver | 3.85% | 116,516 |
| Trash Collector | 4.13% | 3,364 |
| Elevator Operator | 4.33% | - |
| Hold Worker | 4.67% | 22,368 |
| Packing Specialist | 6.68% | 21,370 |
| Gluing Machine Feeder | 10.43% | 30,588 |
Similar elevator operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Mixer Crane Operator | 1.94% | 27,226 |
| Forklift Driver | 3.85% | 116,516 |
| Trash Collector | 4.13% | 3,364 |
| Hold Worker | 4.67% | 22,368 |
| Packing Specialist | 6.68% | 21,370 |
| Gluing Machine Feeder | 10.43% | 30,588 |
Foreign languages spoken by elevator operators
The most common foreign language among elevator operators is Spanish at 82.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Japanese at 3.6% and French is the third-most popular at 3.6%.
- Spanish, 82.1%
- Japanese, 3.6%
- French, 3.6%
- Tagalog, 3.6%
- Polish, 3.6%
- Other, 3.5%
Elevator operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 82.1% |
| Japanese | 3.6% |
| French | 3.6% |
| Tagalog | 3.6% |
| Polish | 3.6% |
| Other | 3.5% |
