Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for equipment operators in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 606,553 equipment operators currently employed in the United States.
- 7.0% of all equipment operators are women, while 93.0% are men.
- The average age of an employed equipment operator is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of equipment operators is White (66.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.9%), Black or African American (7.4%) and Unknown (4.3%).
- Equipment operators are most in-demand in North Mankato, MN.
- The energy industry is the highest-paying for equipment operators.
- 2% of all equipment operators are LGBT.
Equipment Operator Statistics By Gender
7.0% of equipment operators are women and 93.0% of equipment operators are men.
- Male, 93.0%
- Female, 7.0%
Equipment Operators By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 93.0% |
| Female | 7.0% |
Gender Pay Gap For Equipment Operator
Women Earn 94ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Equipment Operator Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the equipment operator position over time.
Equipment Operator Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 93.99% | 6.01% |
| 2011 | 95.52% | 4.48% |
| 2012 | 94.35% | 5.65% |
| 2013 | 94.70% | 5.30% |
| 2014 | 94.35% | 5.65% |
| 2015 | 93.29% | 6.71% |
| 2016 | 91.15% | 8.85% |
| 2017 | 92.36% | 7.64% |
| 2018 | 94.08% | 5.92% |
| 2019 | 93.25% | 6.75% |
| 2020 | 93.00% | 7.00% |
| 2021 | 92.96% | 7.04% |
Equipment Operator Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Equipment Operator | 93% | 7% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Equipment Operator Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among equipment operators is White, which makes up 66.6% of all equipment operators. Comparatively, there are 18.9% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 7.4% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
- White, 66.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.9%
- Black or African American, 7.4%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%
- Asian, 0.9%
Equipment Operator Race
| Equipment Operator Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.9% |
| Black or African American | 7.4% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.9% |
| Asian | 0.9% |
Equipment Operator Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among equipment operators.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Equipment Operator Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.86% | 6.87% | 0.70% | 15.94% |
| 2011 | 72.80% | 7.30% | 0.52% | 15.95% |
| 2012 | 72.98% | 7.00% | 0.80% | 16.05% |
| 2013 | 73.44% | 6.64% | 0.90% | 15.38% |
| 2014 | 72.24% | 6.58% | 0.72% | 16.74% |
| 2015 | 72.03% | 6.53% | 0.78% | 16.93% |
| 2016 | 72.96% | 6.55% | 0.52% | 16.68% |
| 2017 | 71.61% | 6.06% | 1.08% | 17.36% |
| 2018 | 71.15% | 7.29% | 0.64% | 17.53% |
| 2019 | 72.19% | 6.29% | 0.55% | 17.88% |
| 2020 | 70.17% | 6.56% | 0.77% | 16.70% |
| 2021 | 66.57% | 7.39% | 0.93% | 18.91% |
Equipment Operator Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $33,242 |
| White | $32,361 |
| Black or African American | $30,896 |
| Asian | $32,705 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $31,622 |
Average Age of an Equipment Operator
We determined the average age of equipment operators based on ethnicity and gender.
Equipment Operator Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 49.5 | |
| Unknown | 45 | |
| Asian | 46.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 | 45.5 |
| White | 47 | 42 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 53 |
Equipment Operator Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of equipment operator employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of equipment operators is 40+ years old, which represents 64% of the population.
Equipment Operator Age
| Equipment Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 64% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Types of Equipment Operator Degree Levels
The most common degree for equipment operators is high school diploma 46% of equipment operators earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 19% and rounding it off is bachelor's degree with 18%.
- High School Diploma, 46%
- Associate, 19%
- Bachelors, 18%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Equipment Operators By Education
| Equipment Operator Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 46% |
| Associate | 19% |
| Bachelors | 18% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Equipment Operator Jobs You Might Like
Equipment Operator Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,001 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $32,095 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,699 |
Equipment Operator Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where equipment operators work. We found most equipment operators work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most equipment operators is the government industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire equipment operators.
Equipment Operator Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 16% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 33% |
| > 10,000 employees | 29% |
The Types Of Companies Equipment Operator Work In
Employees with the equipment operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most equipment operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Equipment Operator Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 33% |
| Private | 49% |
| Government | 16% |
Top Industries Hiring Equipment Operators
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ equipment operators. Those industries include government, construction and manufacturing.
Equipment Operator Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 15% |
| Government | 13% |
| Construction | 13% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Energy | 10% |
| Retail | 9% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Transportation | 4% |
| Utilities | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Agriculture | 2% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Equipment Operator Turnover And Employment Statistics
Equipment Operator Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of equipment operators changed.
- Unemployment rate
Equipment Operator Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | Equipment Operator Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.28% |
| 2011 | 14.22% |
| 2012 | 12.70% |
| 2013 | 11.88% |
| 2014 | 8.77% |
| 2015 | 7.31% |
| 2016 | 6.72% |
| 2017 | 6.69% |
| 2018 | 6.46% |
| 2019 | 5.55% |
| 2020 | 8.40% |
| 2021 | 7.84% |
The Average Number of Years That Equipment Operator Stay in a Job
By looking over 55,062 equipment operators resumes, we figured out that the average equipment operator enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 31%.
Equipment Operator Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 25% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Equipment Operators with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to equipment operators.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Mason | 1.40% | 214 |
| Drywall Metal Stud Worker | 1.75% | 22,024 |
| Equipment Operator | 2.22% | - |
| Air Hammer Operator | 2.24% | 27,025 |
| Sign Installer | 2.76% | 17,563 |
| Floor Refinisher | 3.39% | 16,290 |
| Sheet Metal Technician | 4.07% | 8,416 |
Equipment Operator LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Mason | 1.40% | 214 |
| Drywall Metal Stud Worker | 1.75% | 22,024 |
| Air Hammer Operator | 2.24% | 27,025 |
| Sign Installer | 2.76% | 17,563 |
| Floor Refinisher | 3.39% | 16,290 |
| Sheet Metal Technician | 4.07% | 8,416 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By Equipment Operators
The most common foreign language among equipment operators is Spanish at 73.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Carrier at 3.9% and French is the third-most popular at 3.7%.
- Spanish, 73.8%
- Carrier, 3.9%
- French, 3.7%
- German, 3.4%
- Dakota, 2.6%
- Other, 12.6%
Equipment Operator Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 73.8% |
| Carrier | 3.9% |
| French | 3.7% |
| German | 3.4% |
| Dakota | 2.6% |
| Other | 12.6% |
