K9 handler demographics and statistics in the US
On this page
K9 handler demographics by:
K9 handler gender statistics
17.1% of k9 handlers are women and 82.9% of k9 handlers are men.
- Male, 82.9%
- Female, 17.1%
K9 handler gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 82.9% |
| Female | 17.1% |
K9 handler gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$42,160
Female income
$39,826
K9 handler gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in k9 handler positions over time. Currently, 17.1% of k9 handlers are female.
K9 handler gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.88% | 16.12% |
| 2011 | 83.84% | 16.16% |
| 2012 | 83.65% | 16.35% |
| 2013 | 84.29% | 15.71% |
| 2014 | 84.16% | 15.84% |
| 2015 | 84.61% | 15.39% |
| 2016 | 84.92% | 15.08% |
| 2017 | 84.62% | 15.38% |
| 2018 | 83.35% | 16.65% |
| 2019 | 82.75% | 17.25% |
| 2020 | 84.79% | 15.21% |
| 2021 | 82.90% | 17.10% |
K9 handler related jobs gender ratio
We compared k9 handlers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, deputy sheriff-k9 handler and fugitive investigator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Matron | 8% | 92% |
| Deputy Treasurer | 19% | 81% |
| Unemployment Examiner | 29% | 71% |
| K9 Handler | 83% | 17% |
| Town Marshal | 96% | 4% |
| Fugitive Investigator | 97% | 3% |
| Deputy Sheriff-K9 Handler | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
K9 handler demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among k9 handlers is White, which makes up 60.9% of all k9 handlers. Comparatively, 16.9% of k9 handlers are Hispanic or Latino and 13.0% of k9 handlers are Black or African American.
- White, 60.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 16.9%
- Black or African American, 13.0%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- Asian, 3.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
K9 handler race
| K9 handler race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 60.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.9% |
| Black or African American | 13.0% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| Asian | 3.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.1% |
K9 handler race and ethnicity over time
See how k9 handler racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
K9 handler race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.74% | 13.30% | 2.58% | 14.36% |
| 2011 | 66.91% | 13.35% | 2.83% | 13.71% |
| 2012 | 66.60% | 13.40% | 2.38% | 13.78% |
| 2013 | 67.10% | 12.78% | 2.54% | 13.91% |
| 2014 | 66.49% | 12.86% | 2.73% | 14.17% |
| 2015 | 65.86% | 13.19% | 2.93% | 14.78% |
| 2016 | 65.71% | 13.31% | 2.60% | 15.14% |
| 2017 | 65.30% | 13.37% | 2.63% | 15.07% |
| 2018 | 64.41% | 12.65% | 3.12% | 16.02% |
| 2019 | 65.83% | 12.21% | 2.93% | 15.58% |
| 2020 | 62.79% | 13.45% | 3.16% | 15.54% |
| 2021 | 60.90% | 13.01% | 3.28% | 16.91% |
K9 handler wage gap by race
According to our data, asian k9 handlers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american k9 handlers have the lowest average salary at $40,218.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $41,345 |
| White | $41,813 |
| Black or African American | $40,218 |
| Asian | $43,849 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $43,688 |
Average k9 handler age
See how the average age of k9 handlers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
K9 handler age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 43 |
| Unknown | 38 | 37 |
| Asian | 38 | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 36 |
| White | 39 | 39 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 41.5 |
K9 handler age breakdown
The average age of k9 handlers is 40+ years years old, representing 50% of the k9 handler population.
K9 handler age breakdown
| K9 Handler Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 50% |
| 30-40 years | 34% |
| 20-30 years | 16% |
K9 handler educational attainment
The most common degree for k9 handlers is bachelor's degree, with 31% of k9 handlers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 26% and associate degree degree at 23%.
- Bachelor's, 31%
- Associate, 26%
- High School Diploma, 23%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 9%
K9 handlers by degree level
| K9 handler degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 31% |
| Associate | 26% |
| High School Diploma | 23% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
K9 handler jobs you might like
K9 handler wage gap by degree level
According to the data, k9 handlers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $46,732 annually. With a Doctorate degree, k9 handlers earn a median annual income of $45,928 compared to $44,271 for k9 handlers with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $46,732 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,744 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $44,271 |
| Doctorate Degree | $45,928 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $42,098 |
K9 handler employment statistics
Most k9 handlers work for a private in the government industry.
Company size where k9 handlers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where k9 handlers work.
K9 handler jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 10% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 29% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 20% |
K9 handler jobs by company type
Employees with the k9 handler job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most k9 handlers prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
K9 handler jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 9% |
| Private | 49% |
| Government | 41% |
K9 handler jobs by industry
The most common industries for k9 handlers are government, professional and non profits.
K9 handler industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 36% |
| Professional | 11% |
| Non Profits | 7% |
| Utilities | 7% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Hospitality | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
K9 handler turnover and employment statistics
K9 handler unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for k9 handlers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
K9 handler unemployment rate by year
| Year | K9 handler unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.07% |
| 2011 | 2.19% |
| 2012 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | 1.72% |
| 2014 | 1.41% |
| 2015 | 1.11% |
| 2016 | 1.02% |
| 2017 | 1.12% |
| 2018 | 0.98% |
| 2019 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | 1.37% |
| 2021 | 1.40% |
Average k9 handler tenure
The average k9 handler stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 484 k9 handlers resumes in Zippia's database.
K9 handler tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 19% |
| 1-2 years | 26% |
| 3-4 years | 17% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 14% |
K9 handler LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of k9 handlers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile Corrections Officer | 5.55% | 99,602 |
| K9 Handler | 7.15% | - |
| Customs And Border Protection Inspector | 8.65% | 44,773 |
| Deputy Bailiff | 11.11% | 1,804 |
Similar k9 handler jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile Corrections Officer | 5.55% | 99,602 |
| Customs And Border Protection Inspector | 8.65% | 44,773 |
| Deputy Bailiff | 11.11% | 1,804 |
Foreign languages spoken by k9 handlers
The most common foreign language among k9 handlers is Spanish at 40.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is German at 10.0% and Turkish is the third-most popular at 10.0%.
- Spanish, 40.0%
- German, 10.0%
- Turkish, 10.0%
- Czech, 10.0%
- Dutch, 10.0%
- Other, 20.0%
K9 handler languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 40.0% |
| German | 10.0% |
| Turkish | 10.0% |
| Czech | 10.0% |
| Dutch | 10.0% |
| Other | 20.0% |
