Heavy machinery operator demographics and statistics in the US
Heavy machinery operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates heavy machinery operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our heavy machinery 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 heavy machinery operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 159,821 heavy machinery operators currently employed in the United States.
- 8.6% of all heavy machinery operators are women, while 91.4% are men.
- The average heavy machinery operator age is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of heavy machinery operators is White (66.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.0%), Black or African American (7.2%) and Unknown (4.3%).
- Heavy machinery operators are most in-demand in Reedley, CA.
- The automotive industry is the highest-paying for heavy machinery operators.
- Reedley, CA pays an annual average wage of $38,724, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women heavy machinery operators earned 95% of what men earned.
- 2% of all heavy machinery operators are LGBT.
- Alaska is the best state for heavy machinery operators to live.
- Heavy machinery operators are 62% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Heavy machinery operator demographics by:
Heavy machinery operator gender statistics
8.6% of heavy machinery operators are women and 91.4% of heavy machinery operators are men.
- Male, 91.4%
- Female, 8.6%
Heavy machinery operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 91.4% |
| Female | 8.6% |
Heavy machinery operator gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$31,755
Female income
$30,022
Heavy machinery operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in heavy machinery operator positions over time. Currently, 8.6% of heavy machinery operators are female.
Heavy machinery operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 92.68% | 7.32% |
| 2011 | 94.52% | 5.48% |
| 2012 | 93.11% | 6.89% |
| 2013 | 93.53% | 6.47% |
| 2014 | 93.11% | 6.89% |
| 2015 | 91.84% | 8.16% |
| 2016 | 89.29% | 10.71% |
| 2017 | 90.72% | 9.28% |
| 2018 | 92.79% | 7.21% |
| 2019 | 91.78% | 8.22% |
| 2020 | 91.49% | 8.51% |
| 2021 | 91.44% | 8.56% |
Heavy machinery operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared heavy machinery operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Heavy Machinery Operator | 91% | 9% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Heavy machinery operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among heavy machinery operators is White, which makes up 66.7% of all heavy machinery operators. Comparatively, 19.0% of heavy machinery operators are Hispanic or Latino and 7.2% of heavy machinery operators are Black or African American.
- White, 66.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.0%
- Black or African American, 7.2%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9%
- Asian, 0.9%
Heavy machinery operator race
| Heavy machinery operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.0% |
| Black or African American | 7.2% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.9% |
| Asian | 0.9% |
Heavy machinery operator race and ethnicity over time
See how heavy machinery operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Heavy machinery operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.94% | 6.66% | 0.70% | 16.07% |
| 2011 | 72.88% | 7.09% | 0.52% | 16.08% |
| 2012 | 73.06% | 6.79% | 0.79% | 16.19% |
| 2013 | 73.51% | 6.43% | 0.89% | 15.52% |
| 2014 | 72.32% | 6.37% | 0.71% | 16.87% |
| 2015 | 72.10% | 6.32% | 0.77% | 17.06% |
| 2016 | 73.04% | 6.34% | 0.51% | 16.82% |
| 2017 | 71.68% | 5.85% | 1.07% | 17.50% |
| 2018 | 71.23% | 7.08% | 0.64% | 17.66% |
| 2019 | 72.26% | 6.08% | 0.55% | 18.02% |
| 2020 | 70.25% | 6.35% | 0.77% | 16.83% |
| 2021 | 66.65% | 7.17% | 0.93% | 19.05% |
Heavy machinery operator wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown heavy machinery operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american heavy machinery operators have the lowest average salary at $30,533.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $32,810 |
| White | $31,955 |
| Black or African American | $30,533 |
| Asian | $32,289 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $31,237 |
Average heavy machinery operator age
See how the average age of heavy machinery operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Heavy machinery operator age by race and gender
| 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 |
Heavy machinery operator age breakdown
The average age of heavy machinery operators is 40+ years years old, representing 64% of the heavy machinery operator population.
Heavy machinery operator age breakdown
| Heavy Machinery Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 64% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Heavy machinery operator educational attainment
The most common degree for heavy machinery operators is high school diploma, with 45% of heavy machinery operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 23% and bachelor's degree degree at 17%.
- High School Diploma, 45%
- Bachelor's, 23%
- Associate, 17%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Heavy machinery operators by degree level
| Heavy machinery operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 45% |
| Bachelor's | 23% |
| Associate | 17% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Heavy machinery operator jobs you might like
Heavy machinery operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, heavy machinery operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $32,283 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, heavy machinery operators earn a median annual income of $31,697 compared to $31,606 for heavy machinery operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $31,606 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,697 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,283 |
Heavy machinery operator employment statistics
Most heavy machinery operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where heavy machinery operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where heavy machinery operators work.
Heavy machinery operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 18% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 24% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 26% |
Heavy machinery operator jobs by company type
Employees with the heavy machinery operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most heavy machinery operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Heavy machinery operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 31% |
| Private | 62% |
| Government | 5% |
Heavy machinery operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for heavy machinery operators are manufacturing, construction and professional.
Heavy machinery operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19% |
| Fortune 500 | 13% |
| Construction | 9% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Transportation | 5% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Automotive | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Agriculture | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Heavy machinery operator turnover and employment statistics
Heavy machinery operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for heavy machinery operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Heavy machinery operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Heavy machinery 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% |
Average heavy machinery operator tenure
The average heavy machinery operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,633 heavy machinery operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Heavy machinery operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 11% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Heavy machinery operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of heavy machinery 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Setter | 1.40% | 1,839 |
| Drywall Mechanic | 1.75% | 33,473 |
| Heavy Machinery Operator | 2.22% | - |
| Air Hammer Operator | 2.24% | 27,025 |
| Neon Sign Worker | 2.76% | 22,484 |
| Acoustical Material Worker | 3.39% | 38,252 |
| Sheet Metal Installer | 4.07% | 18,008 |
Similar heavy machinery operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Setter | 1.40% | 1,839 |
| Drywall Mechanic | 1.75% | 33,473 |
| Air Hammer Operator | 2.24% | 27,025 |
| Neon Sign Worker | 2.76% | 22,484 |
| Acoustical Material Worker | 3.39% | 38,252 |
| Sheet Metal Installer | 4.07% | 18,008 |
Foreign languages spoken by heavy machinery operators
The most common foreign language among heavy machinery operators is Spanish at 60.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.3% and German is the third-most popular at 8.9%.
- Spanish, 60.0%
- French, 13.3%
- German, 8.9%
- Russian, 4.4%
- Kurdish, 2.2%
- Other, 11.2%
Heavy machinery operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.0% |
| French | 13.3% |
| German | 8.9% |
| Russian | 4.4% |
| Kurdish | 2.2% |
| Other | 11.2% |
