Head nurse demographics and statistics in the US
Head nurse demographics research summary. Zippia estimates head nurse demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our head nurse estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about head nurses after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 1,984,895 head nurses currently employed in the United States.
- 86.9% of all head nurses are women, while 13.1% are men.
- The average head nurse age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of head nurses is White (65.2%), followed by Black or African American (12.3%), Hispanic or Latino (9.0%) and Asian (8.8%).
- Head nurses are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The education industry is the highest-paying for head nurses.
- 9% of all head nurses are LGBT.
On this page
Head nurse demographics by:
Head nurse gender statistics
86.9% of head nurses are women and 13.1% of head nurses are men.
- Female, 86.9%
- Male, 13.1%
Head nurse gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 86.9% |
| Male | 13.1% |
Head nurse gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$86,806
Female income
$81,508
Head nurse gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in head nurse positions over time. Currently, 86.9% of head nurses are female.
Head nurse gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.84% | 90.16% |
| 2011 | 10.24% | 89.76% |
| 2012 | 10.36% | 89.64% |
| 2013 | 10.80% | 89.20% |
| 2014 | 11.77% | 88.23% |
| 2015 | 11.38% | 88.62% |
| 2016 | 11.80% | 88.20% |
| 2017 | 12.40% | 87.60% |
| 2018 | 12.77% | 87.23% |
| 2019 | 12.83% | 87.17% |
| 2020 | 13.08% | 86.92% |
| 2021 | 13.06% | 86.94% |
Head nurse related jobs gender ratio
We compared head nurses with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, flight surgeon and optometrist, owner have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse Midwife | 2% | 98% |
| Perinatal Nurse | 3% | 97% |
| Therapeutic Dietitian | 3% | 97% |
| Head Nurse | 13% | 87% |
| Radiology Resident | 75% | 25% |
| Optometrist, Owner | 76% | 24% |
| Flight Surgeon | 82% | 18% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Head nurse demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among head nurses is White, which makes up 65.2% of all head nurses. Comparatively, 12.3% of head nurses are Black or African American and 9.0% of head nurses are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 65.2%
- Black or African American, 12.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.0%
- Asian, 8.8%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Head nurse race
| Head nurse race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.2% |
| Black or African American | 12.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.0% |
| Asian | 8.8% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Head nurse race and ethnicity over time
See how head nurse racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Head nurse race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.16% | 12.44% | 7.03% | 6.50% |
| 2011 | 71.75% | 12.81% | 6.94% | 6.57% |
| 2012 | 71.35% | 12.94% | 7.04% | 6.79% |
| 2013 | 71.19% | 12.87% | 7.14% | 6.75% |
| 2014 | 70.00% | 13.01% | 7.67% | 7.28% |
| 2015 | 70.19% | 13.13% | 7.19% | 7.40% |
| 2016 | 69.99% | 12.66% | 7.63% | 7.67% |
| 2017 | 69.63% | 12.16% | 7.81% | 8.01% |
| 2018 | 69.43% | 12.83% | 7.55% | 7.91% |
| 2019 | 69.45% | 12.17% | 7.85% | 8.26% |
| 2020 | 67.31% | 11.78% | 7.87% | 8.73% |
| 2021 | 65.17% | 12.25% | 8.85% | 9.04% |
Head nurse wage gap by race
According to our data, asian head nurses have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White head nurses have the lowest average salary at $83,081.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $84,281 |
| White | $83,081 |
| Black or African American | $83,412 |
| Asian | $99,009 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $85,233 |
Average head nurse age
See how the average age of head nurses varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Head nurse age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 45 |
| Unknown | 39 | 40.5 |
| Asian | 39 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 38 |
| White | 42 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Head nurse age breakdown
The average age of head nurses is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the head nurse population.
Head nurse age breakdown
| Head Nurse Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Head nurse educational attainment
The most common degree for head nurses is bachelor's degree, with 49% of head nurses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 28% and associate degree degree at 10%.
- Bachelor's, 49%
- Associate, 28%
- Diploma, 10%
- Master's, 8%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Head nurses by degree level
| Head nurse degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 49% |
| Associate | 28% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Master's | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Head nurse jobs you might like
Head nurse wage gap by degree level
According to the data, head nurses with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $103,385 annually. With a Doctorate degree, head nurses earn a median annual income of $94,377 compared to $90,555 for head nurses with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $103,385 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $90,555 |
| Doctorate Degree | $94,377 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $76,276 |
Head nurse employment statistics
Most head nurses work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where head nurses work
Below, you can see the size of companies where head nurses work.
Head nurse jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 38% |
| > 10,000 employees | 8% |
Head nurse jobs by company type
Employees with the head nurse job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most head nurses prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Head nurse jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 10% |
| Public | 2% |
| Private | 81% |
| Government | 6% |
Head nurse jobs by industry
The most common industries for head nurses are health care, education and government.
Head nurse industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 78% |
| Education | 8% |
| Government | 5% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Professional | 1% |
Head nurse turnover and employment statistics
Head nurse unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for head nurses between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Head nurse unemployment rate by year
| Year | Head nurse unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.90% |
| 2011 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | 1.69% |
| 2014 | 1.75% |
| 2015 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 1.10% |
| 2017 | 1.04% |
| 2018 | 1.07% |
| 2019 | 1.04% |
| 2020 | 1.45% |
| 2021 | 1.37% |
Average head nurse tenure
The average head nurse stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 4,168 head nurses resumes in Zippia's database.
Head nurse tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 10% |
| 1-2 years | 38% |
| 3-4 years | 20% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Head nurse LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of head nurses 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Head Nurse | 8.72% | - |
| Pediatric Urologist | 9.88% | 14,011 |
| Surgical Physician Assistant | 11.62% | 73,380 |
| Coordinator Cardiopulmonary Services | 13.00% | 71,476 |
| Internal Medicine Hospitalist | 13.05% | 22,474 |
| Eye Clinic Manager | 17.57% | 15,789 |
| Staff Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 72,711 |
Similar head nurse jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatric Urologist | 9.88% | 14,011 |
| Surgical Physician Assistant | 11.62% | 73,380 |
| Coordinator Cardiopulmonary Services | 13.00% | 71,476 |
| Internal Medicine Hospitalist | 13.05% | 22,474 |
| Eye Clinic Manager | 17.57% | 15,789 |
| Staff Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 72,711 |
Foreign languages spoken by head nurses
The most common foreign language among head nurses is Spanish at 60.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.4% and Russian is the third-most popular at 6.4%.
- Spanish, 60.3%
- French, 6.4%
- Russian, 6.4%
- Tagalog, 3.8%
- Ukrainian, 2.6%
- Other, 20.5%
Head nurse languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.3% |
| French | 6.4% |
| Russian | 6.4% |
| Tagalog | 3.8% |
| Ukrainian | 2.6% |
| Other | 20.5% |
