Lactation consultant demographics and statistics in the US
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Lactation consultant demographics by:
Lactation consultant gender statistics
96.3% of lactation consultants are women and 3.7% of lactation consultants are men.
- Female, 96.3%
- Male, 3.7%
Lactation consultant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 96.3% |
| Male | 3.7% |
Lactation consultant gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$76,841
Female income
$73,909
Lactation consultant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in lactation consultant positions over time. Currently, 96.3% of lactation consultants are female.
Lactation consultant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.73% | 97.27% |
| 2011 | 2.85% | 97.15% |
| 2012 | 2.89% | 97.11% |
| 2013 | 3.02% | 96.98% |
| 2014 | 3.32% | 96.68% |
| 2015 | 3.20% | 96.80% |
| 2016 | 3.33% | 96.67% |
| 2017 | 3.51% | 96.49% |
| 2018 | 3.63% | 96.37% |
| 2019 | 3.65% | 96.35% |
| 2020 | 3.73% | 96.27% |
| 2021 | 3.72% | 96.28% |
Lactation consultant related jobs gender ratio
We compared lactation consultants 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% |
| Lactation Consultant | 4% | 96% |
| Radiology Resident | 75% | 25% |
| Optometrist, Owner | 76% | 24% |
| Flight Surgeon | 82% | 18% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Lactation consultant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among lactation consultants is White, which makes up 66.3% of all lactation consultants. Comparatively, 10.2% of lactation consultants are Black or African American and 9.7% of lactation consultants are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 66.3%
- Black or African American, 10.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.7%
- Asian, 9.1%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Lactation consultant race
| Lactation consultant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.3% |
| Black or African American | 10.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.7% |
| Asian | 9.1% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Lactation consultant race and ethnicity over time
See how lactation consultant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Lactation consultant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.27% | 10.36% | 7.29% | 7.16% |
| 2011 | 72.86% | 10.73% | 7.21% | 7.22% |
| 2012 | 72.46% | 10.86% | 7.30% | 7.44% |
| 2013 | 72.30% | 10.80% | 7.40% | 7.40% |
| 2014 | 71.11% | 10.94% | 7.93% | 7.93% |
| 2015 | 71.30% | 11.05% | 7.46% | 8.05% |
| 2016 | 71.10% | 10.58% | 7.89% | 8.32% |
| 2017 | 70.74% | 10.08% | 8.07% | 8.66% |
| 2018 | 70.54% | 10.75% | 7.81% | 8.56% |
| 2019 | 70.56% | 10.09% | 8.11% | 8.91% |
| 2020 | 68.42% | 9.70% | 8.13% | 9.38% |
| 2021 | 66.27% | 10.17% | 9.11% | 9.69% |
Lactation consultant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian lactation consultants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White lactation consultants have the lowest average salary at $74,787.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $75,452 |
| White | $74,787 |
| Black or African American | $74,971 |
| Asian | $83,348 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $75,978 |
Average lactation consultant age
See how the average age of lactation consultants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Lactation consultant 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 |
Lactation consultant age breakdown
The average age of lactation consultants is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the lactation consultant population.
Lactation consultant age breakdown
| Lactation Consultant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Lactation consultant educational attainment
The most common degree for lactation consultants is bachelor's degree, with 59% of lactation consultants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 14%.
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Associate, 19%
- Master's, 14%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Lactation consultants by degree level
| Lactation consultant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 59% |
| Associate | 19% |
| Master's | 14% |
| Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Lactation consultant jobs you might like
Lactation consultant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, lactation consultants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $85,605 annually. With a Doctorate degree, lactation consultants earn a median annual income of $80,916 compared to $78,876 for lactation consultants with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $85,605 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $78,876 |
| Doctorate Degree | $80,916 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $70,940 |
Lactation consultant employment statistics
Most lactation consultants work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where lactation consultants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where lactation consultants work.
Lactation consultant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 41% |
| > 10,000 employees | 13% |
Lactation consultant jobs by company type
Employees with the lactation consultant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most lactation consultants prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Lactation consultant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 2% |
| Private | 83% |
| Government | 7% |
Lactation consultant jobs by industry
The most common industries for lactation consultants are health care, education and government.
Lactation consultant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 78% |
| Education | 6% |
| Government | 4% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Professional | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Manufacturing | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Lactation consultant turnover and employment statistics
Lactation consultant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for lactation consultants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lactation consultant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Lactation consultant 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 lactation consultant tenure
The average lactation consultant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 612 lactation consultants resumes in Zippia's database.
Lactation consultant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 11% |
| 1-2 years | 20% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 24% |
| 8-10 years | 10% |
| 11+ years | 20% |
Lactation consultant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of lactation consultants 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lactation Consultant | 8.72% | - |
| Neuropsychiatrist | 9.88% | 4,213 |
| Physician Assistant Student | 11.62% | 58,769 |
| Clinical Exercise Specialist | 13.00% | 56,463 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | 13.05% | 89,013 |
| Optometrist, Owner | 17.57% | 51,669 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 62,419 |
Similar lactation consultant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Neuropsychiatrist | 9.88% | 4,213 |
| Physician Assistant Student | 11.62% | 58,769 |
| Clinical Exercise Specialist | 13.00% | 56,463 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | 13.05% | 89,013 |
| Optometrist, Owner | 17.57% | 51,669 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 62,419 |
Foreign languages spoken by lactation consultants
The most common foreign language among lactation consultants is Spanish at 64.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Arabic at 7.1% and Swedish is the third-most popular at 3.6%.
- Spanish, 64.3%
- Arabic, 7.1%
- Swedish, 3.6%
- Chinese, 3.6%
- Filipino, 3.6%
- Other, 17.8%
Lactation consultant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 64.3% |
| Arabic | 7.1% |
| Swedish | 3.6% |
| Chinese | 3.6% |
| Filipino | 3.6% |
| Other | 17.8% |
