Fact checker demographics and statistics in the US
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Fact checker demographics by:
Fact checker gender statistics
67.4% of fact checkers are women and 32.6% of fact checkers are men.
- Female, 67.4%
- Male, 32.6%
Fact checker gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 67.4% |
| Male | 32.6% |
Fact checker gender pay gap
Women earn 97¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$54,259
Female income
$52,449
Fact checker gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in fact checker positions over time. Currently, 67.4% of fact checkers are female.
Fact checker gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 28.09% | 71.91% |
| 2011 | 28.32% | 71.68% |
| 2012 | 28.80% | 71.20% |
| 2013 | 29.25% | 70.75% |
| 2014 | 28.58% | 71.42% |
| 2015 | 28.26% | 71.74% |
| 2016 | 29.86% | 70.14% |
| 2017 | 30.43% | 69.57% |
| 2018 | 30.80% | 69.20% |
| 2019 | 29.79% | 70.21% |
| 2020 | 32.13% | 67.87% |
| 2021 | 32.58% | 67.42% |
Fact checker related jobs gender ratio
We compared fact checkers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, parts counterman and lumber associate have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| BRA Specialist | 6% | 94% |
| Clinique Consultant | 6% | 94% |
| Beauty Consultant | 6% | 94% |
| Fact Checker | 33% | 67% |
| Cart Associate | 94% | 6% |
| Lumber Associate | 95% | 5% |
| Parts Counterman | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Fact checker demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among fact checkers is White, which makes up 61.7% of all fact checkers. Comparatively, 14.0% of fact checkers are Hispanic or Latino and 9.0% of fact checkers are Black or African American.
- White, 61.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.0%
- Black or African American, 9.0%
- Asian, 8.3%
- Unknown, 5.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
Fact checker race
| Fact checker race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 61.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.0% |
| Black or African American | 9.0% |
| Asian | 8.3% |
| Unknown | 5.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.2% |
Fact checker race and ethnicity over time
See how fact checker racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Fact checker race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.67% | 10.20% | 6.88% | 10.49% |
| 2011 | 68.12% | 11.05% | 6.57% | 10.21% |
| 2012 | 67.11% | 11.20% | 6.69% | 10.87% |
| 2013 | 67.42% | 10.36% | 6.70% | 11.13% |
| 2014 | 66.26% | 10.97% | 6.98% | 11.48% |
| 2015 | 66.11% | 10.70% | 7.07% | 11.81% |
| 2016 | 65.24% | 10.55% | 7.10% | 12.40% |
| 2017 | 64.71% | 10.04% | 7.62% | 12.87% |
| 2018 | 65.39% | 9.74% | 7.50% | 12.65% |
| 2019 | 66.02% | 9.27% | 7.24% | 12.95% |
| 2020 | 63.15% | 8.87% | 7.79% | 13.17% |
| 2021 | 61.70% | 9.00% | 8.32% | 13.97% |
Fact checker wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino fact checkers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White fact checkers have the lowest average salary at $52,385.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $54,336 |
| White | $52,385 |
| Black or African American | $52,687 |
| Asian | $55,696 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $56,303 |
Average fact checker age
See how the average age of fact checkers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Fact checker age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 23 | 29 |
| Unknown | 23 | 27 |
| Asian | 35 | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 22 | 25 |
| White | 26 | 33 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 32 | 34 |
Fact checker age breakdown
The average age of fact checkers is 20-30 years years old, representing 33% of the fact checker population.
Fact checker age breakdown
| Fact Checker Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 33% |
| 30-40 years | 16% |
| 20-30 years | 33% |
Fact checker educational attainment
The most common degree for fact checkers is bachelor's degree, with 78% of fact checkers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 78%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Fact checkers by degree level
| Fact checker degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 78% |
| Master's | 14% |
| Associate | 5% |
| High School Diploma | 1% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Fact checker jobs you might like
Fact checker wage gap by degree level
According to the data, fact checkers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $58,432 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, fact checkers earn a median annual income of $58,332 compared to $56,292 for fact checkers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $58,432 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $52,923 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $58,332 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $56,292 |
Fact checker employment statistics
Most fact checkers work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where fact checkers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where fact checkers work.
Fact checker jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 2% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 31% |
| > 10,000 employees | 14% |
Fact checker jobs by company type
Employees with the fact checker job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most fact checkers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Fact checker jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 11% |
| Public | 17% |
| Private | 71% |
| Government | 2% |
Fact checker jobs by industry
The most common industries for fact checkers are media, education and professional.
Fact checker industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 44% |
| Education | 8% |
| Professional | 7% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Internet | 5% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Government | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Fact checker turnover and employment statistics
Fact checker unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for fact checkers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Fact checker unemployment rate by year
| Year | Fact checker unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 16.14% |
| 2011 | 15.69% |
| 2012 | 14.92% |
| 2013 | 12.93% |
| 2014 | 12.03% |
| 2015 | 10.98% |
| 2016 | 10.38% |
| 2017 | 10.15% |
| 2018 | 10.11% |
| 2019 | 8.55% |
| 2020 | 10.85% |
| 2021 | 11.09% |
Average fact checker tenure
The average fact checker stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 307 fact checkers resumes in Zippia's database.
Fact checker tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 40% |
| 1-2 years | 21% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 10% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Fact checker LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of fact checkers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Television Rental Clerk | 3.66% | 68,667 |
| Parts Person | 3.76% | 50,915 |
| Fact Checker | 5.06% | - |
| Internet Retailer | 7.10% | 42,513 |
Similar fact checker jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Television Rental Clerk | 3.66% | 68,667 |
| Parts Person | 3.76% | 50,915 |
| Internet Retailer | 7.10% | 42,513 |
Foreign languages spoken by fact checkers
The most common foreign language among fact checkers is Spanish at 42.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.7% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 7.1%.
- Spanish, 42.9%
- French, 10.7%
- Portuguese, 7.1%
- German, 7.1%
- Russian, 7.1%
- Other, 25.1%
Fact checker languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 42.9% |
| French | 10.7% |
| Portuguese | 7.1% |
| German | 7.1% |
| Russian | 7.1% |
| Other | 25.1% |