Executive demographics and statistics in the US
Executive demographics research summary. Zippia estimates executive demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our executive estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about executives after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,475 executives currently employed in the United States.
- 44.0% of all executives are women, while 56.0% are men.
- The average executive age is 51 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of executives is White (76.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7.7%), Asian (7.6%) and Unknown (3.9%).
- In 2022, women earned 88% of what men earned.
- 12% of all executives are LGBT.
- Executives are 66% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Executive demographics by:
Executive gender statistics
44.0% of executives are women and 56.0% of executives are men.
- Male, 56.0%
- Female, 44.0%
Executive gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 56.0% |
| Female | 44.0% |
Executive gender pay gap
Women earn 88¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$101,735
Female income
$89,865
Executive gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in executive positions over time. Currently, 44.0% of executives are female.
Executive gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.36% | 35.64% |
| 2011 | 64.10% | 35.90% |
| 2012 | 63.25% | 36.75% |
| 2013 | 61.65% | 38.35% |
| 2014 | 61.00% | 39.00% |
| 2015 | 60.68% | 39.32% |
| 2016 | 59.97% | 40.03% |
| 2017 | 60.40% | 39.60% |
| 2018 | 60.21% | 39.79% |
| 2019 | 57.20% | 42.80% |
| 2020 | 55.97% | 44.03% |
| 2021 | 55.98% | 44.02% |
Executive related jobs gender ratio
We compared executives with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, district commercial superintendent and street superintendent have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant To General Manager | 9% | 91% |
| Manager Stylist | 9% | 91% |
| Salon Manager | 12% | 88% |
| Executive | 56% | 44% |
| General Superintendent | 97% | 3% |
| Street Superintendent | 97% | 3% |
| District Commercial Superintendent | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Executive demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among executives is White, which makes up 76.4% of all executives. Comparatively, 7.7% of executives are Hispanic or Latino and 7.6% of executives are Asian.
- White, 76.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 7.7%
- Asian, 7.6%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- Black or African American, 3.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Executive race
| Executive race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 76.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.7% |
| Asian | 7.6% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| Black or African American | 3.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Executive race and ethnicity over time
See how executive racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Executive race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 82.97% | 3.34% | 5.74% | 6.17% |
| 2011 | 83.16% | 3.73% | 5.37% | 5.78% |
| 2012 | 82.40% | 3.66% | 5.91% | 6.25% |
| 2013 | 82.66% | 3.47% | 6.01% | 5.98% |
| 2014 | 82.69% | 3.60% | 5.65% | 6.31% |
| 2015 | 82.63% | 3.47% | 5.64% | 6.30% |
| 2016 | 82.29% | 3.37% | 6.21% | 6.14% |
| 2017 | 80.93% | 3.53% | 6.74% | 6.71% |
| 2018 | 80.43% | 3.37% | 6.94% | 7.02% |
| 2019 | 81.56% | 3.08% | 6.68% | 6.79% |
| 2020 | 78.18% | 3.56% | 7.14% | 7.10% |
| 2021 | 76.43% | 3.73% | 7.60% | 7.71% |
Executive wage gap by race
According to our data, white executives have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american executives have the lowest average salary at $98,085.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $100,065 |
| White | $105,075 |
| Black or African American | $98,085 |
| Asian | $104,214 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $101,401 |
Average executive age
See how the average age of executives varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Executive age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 53 | 52 |
| Unknown | 51 | 49 |
| Asian | 49 | 48 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 50 | 46 |
| White | 53 | 52 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 52 | 48 |
Executive age breakdown
The average age of executives is 40+ years years old, representing 89% of the executive population.
Executive age breakdown
| Executive Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 89% |
| 30-40 years | 11% |
| 20-30 years | 0% |
Executive educational attainment
The most common degree for executives is bachelor's degree, with 61% of executives earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 11%.
- Bachelor's, 61%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 11%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Executives by degree level
| Executive degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 61% |
| Master's | 14% |
| Associate | 11% |
| High School Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Executive jobs you might like
Executive wage gap by degree level
According to the data, executives with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $125,300 annually. With a Doctorate degree, executives earn a median annual income of $125,280 compared to $114,258 for executives with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $125,300 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $114,258 |
| Doctorate Degree | $125,280 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $86,956 |
Executive employment statistics
Most executives work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where executives work
Below, you can see the size of companies where executives work.
Executive jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 23% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 18% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 26% |
Executive jobs by company type
Employees with the executive job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most executives prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Executive jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 3% |
| Public | 28% |
| Private | 66% |
| Government | 3% |
Executive jobs by industry
The most common industries for executives are professional, technology and finance.
Executive industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 13% |
| Fortune 500 | 13% |
| Technology | 12% |
| Finance | 8% |
| Media | 7% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Insurance | 4% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Education | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Energy | 1% |
Executive turnover and employment statistics
Executive unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for executives between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Executive unemployment rate by year
| Year | Executive unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4.37% |
| 2011 | 3.53% |
| 2012 | 3.04% |
| 2013 | 2.67% |
| 2014 | 2.12% |
| 2015 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | 1.98% |
| 2017 | 1.88% |
| 2018 | 1.65% |
| 2019 | 1.72% |
| 2020 | 2.10% |
| 2021 | 2.06% |
Average executive tenure
The average executive stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 33,052 executives resumes in Zippia's database.
Executive tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 22% |
| 1-2 years | 36% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Executive LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of executives 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Director | 7.93% | 52,849 |
| Project Administrator | 8.41% | 141,253 |
| Commercial Account Manager | 9.38% | 166,435 |
| Commissary Manager | 9.63% | 241,170 |
| Executive | 11.54% | - |
| Staffing Manager | 13.02% | 17,860 |
| Advertising Manager | 14.95% | 43,083 |
Similar executive jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Director | 7.93% | 52,849 |
| Project Administrator | 8.41% | 141,253 |
| Commercial Account Manager | 9.38% | 166,435 |
| Commissary Manager | 9.63% | 241,170 |
| Staffing Manager | 13.02% | 17,860 |
| Advertising Manager | 14.95% | 43,083 |
Foreign languages spoken by executives
The most common foreign language among executives is Spanish at 44.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.8% and Mandarin is the third-most popular at 5.2%.
- Spanish, 44.3%
- French, 11.8%
- Mandarin, 5.2%
- Chinese, 4.6%
- German, 4.5%
- Other, 29.6%
Executive languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 44.3% |
| French | 11.8% |
| Mandarin | 5.2% |
| Chinese | 4.6% |
| German | 4.5% |
| Other | 29.6% |
