Lead operator demographics and statistics in the US
Lead operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates lead operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our lead 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 lead operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 22,322 lead operators currently employed in the United States.
- 26.5% of all lead operators are women, while 73.5% are men.
- The average lead operator age is 46 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of lead operators is White (59.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.7%), Black or African American (12.3%) and Asian (4.6%).
- In 2022, women earned 86% of what men earned.
- 6% of all lead operators are LGBT.
- Lead operators are 56% more likely to work at public companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Lead operator demographics by:
Lead operator gender statistics
26.5% of lead operators are women and 73.5% of lead operators are men.
- Male, 73.5%
- Female, 26.5%
Lead operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 73.5% |
| Female | 26.5% |
Lead operator gender pay gap
Women earn 86¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$101,369
Female income
$87,097
Lead operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in lead operator positions over time. Currently, 26.5% of lead operators are female.
Lead operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 77.34% | 22.66% |
| 2011 | 77.17% | 22.83% |
| 2012 | 77.93% | 22.07% |
| 2013 | 78.31% | 21.69% |
| 2014 | 77.73% | 22.27% |
| 2015 | 76.59% | 23.41% |
| 2016 | 77.11% | 22.89% |
| 2017 | 76.80% | 23.20% |
| 2018 | 75.03% | 24.97% |
| 2019 | 76.50% | 23.50% |
| 2020 | 74.84% | 25.16% |
| 2021 | 73.47% | 26.53% |
Lead operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared lead operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, pressroom foreman and tubing supervisor have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Word Processing Supervisor | 13% | 88% |
| Dental Laboratory Supervisor | 21% | 79% |
| Embroidery Supervisor | 24% | 76% |
| Lead Operator | 73% | 27% |
| Machine Shop Foreman | 98% | 2% |
| Tubing Supervisor | 98% | 2% |
| Pressroom Foreman | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Lead operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among lead operators is White, which makes up 59.6% of all lead operators. Comparatively, 18.7% of lead operators are Hispanic or Latino and 12.3% of lead operators are Black or African American.
- White, 59.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.7%
- Black or African American, 12.3%
- Asian, 4.6%
- Unknown, 4.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Lead operator race
| Lead operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.7% |
| Black or African American | 12.3% |
| Asian | 4.6% |
| Unknown | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Lead operator race and ethnicity over time
See how lead operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Lead operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.28% | 11.81% | 3.90% | 16.15% |
| 2011 | 66.46% | 11.71% | 3.86% | 16.22% |
| 2012 | 65.75% | 11.72% | 3.84% | 16.74% |
| 2013 | 67.09% | 10.83% | 4.03% | 16.33% |
| 2014 | 65.46% | 11.22% | 4.26% | 17.02% |
| 2015 | 65.50% | 11.42% | 3.97% | 17.29% |
| 2016 | 64.54% | 11.43% | 4.09% | 18.00% |
| 2017 | 63.97% | 12.03% | 4.61% | 17.21% |
| 2018 | 65.25% | 11.15% | 4.19% | 17.55% |
| 2019 | 63.56% | 11.70% | 4.44% | 18.31% |
| 2020 | 62.46% | 11.30% | 4.59% | 17.49% |
| 2021 | 59.60% | 12.29% | 4.60% | 18.73% |
Lead operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white lead operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american lead operators have the lowest average salary at $95,349.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $98,823 |
| White | $106,098 |
| Black or African American | $95,349 |
| Asian | $105,823 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $101,171 |
Average lead operator age
See how the average age of lead operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Lead operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 48 | 48 |
| Unknown | 45 | 44 |
| Asian | 45.5 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 45 |
| White | 48 | 49 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 48 |
Lead operator age breakdown
The average age of lead operators is 40+ years years old, representing 71% of the lead operator population.
Lead operator age breakdown
| Lead Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 23% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Lead operator educational attainment
The most common degree for lead operators is bachelor's degree, with 45% of lead operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 21% and high school diploma degree at 18%.
- Bachelor's, 45%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Associate, 18%
- Master's, 7%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Lead operators by degree level
| Lead operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 45% |
| High School Diploma | 21% |
| Associate | 18% |
| Master's | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
Lead operator jobs you might like
Lead operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, lead operators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $129,652 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, lead operators earn a median annual income of $109,168 compared to $94,919 for lead operators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $129,652 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $84,335 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $109,168 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $94,919 |
Lead operator employment statistics
Most lead operators work for a public in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where lead operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where lead operators work.
Lead operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 2% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 4% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 9% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 54% |
Lead operator jobs by company type
Employees with the lead operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most lead operators prefer to work at public companies over private companies.
Lead operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 56% |
| Private | 41% |
| Government | 2% |
Lead operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for lead operators are manufacturing, technology and retail.
Lead operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 25% |
| Manufacturing | 14% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Retail | 7% |
| Energy | 7% |
| Transportation | 5% |
| Finance | 5% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Lead operator turnover and employment statistics
Lead operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for lead operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lead operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Lead operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.60% |
| 2011 | 6.12% |
| 2012 | 4.56% |
| 2013 | 3.89% |
| 2014 | 2.82% |
| 2015 | 2.49% |
| 2016 | 2.43% |
| 2017 | 1.97% |
| 2018 | 1.74% |
| 2019 | 1.98% |
| 2020 | 3.23% |
| 2021 | 3.00% |
Average lead operator tenure
The average lead operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 19,327 lead operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Lead operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 13% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 17% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 13% |
Lead operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of lead 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Operator | 2.37% | 43,388 |
| Laser Operator | 2.83% | 56,479 |
| Quality Assurance Inspector | 3.84% | 74,410 |
| Laundry Attendant | 5.06% | 49,030 |
| Lead Operator | 5.63% | - |
| Petroleum Supply Specialist | 9.20% | 17,014 |
| Scanner Operator | 20.58% | 29,750 |
Similar lead operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Operator | 2.37% | 43,388 |
| Laser Operator | 2.83% | 56,479 |
| Quality Assurance Inspector | 3.84% | 74,410 |
| Laundry Attendant | 5.06% | 49,030 |
| Petroleum Supply Specialist | 9.20% | 17,014 |
| Scanner Operator | 20.58% | 29,750 |
Foreign languages spoken by lead operators
The most common foreign language among lead operators is Spanish at 58.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.9% and German is the third-most popular at 4.6%.
- Spanish, 58.6%
- French, 5.9%
- German, 4.6%
- Italian, 3.5%
- Portuguese, 3.2%
- Other, 24.2%
Lead operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 58.6% |
| French | 5.9% |
| German | 4.6% |
| Italian | 3.5% |
| Portuguese | 3.2% |
| Other | 24.2% |
