Leader demographics and statistics in the US
Leader demographics research summary. Zippia estimates leader demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our leader estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about leaders after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 42,398 leaders currently employed in the United States.
- 50.2% of all leaders are women, while 49.8% are men.
- The average leader age is 46 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of leaders is White (61.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.0%), Black or African American (11.9%) and Asian (5.0%).
- In 2022, women earned 83% of what men earned.
- 6% of all leaders are LGBT.
- Leaders are 47% more likely to work at public companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Leader demographics by:
Leader gender statistics
50.2% of leaders are women and 49.8% of leaders are men.
- Female, 50.2%
- Male, 49.8%
Leader gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 50.2% |
| Male | 49.8% |
Leader gender pay gap
Women earn 83¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$102,339
Female income
$85,405
Leader gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in leader positions over time. Currently, 50.2% of leaders are female.
Leader gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55.03% | 44.97% |
| 2011 | 54.79% | 45.21% |
| 2012 | 55.87% | 44.13% |
| 2013 | 56.41% | 43.59% |
| 2014 | 55.58% | 44.42% |
| 2015 | 53.98% | 46.02% |
| 2016 | 54.70% | 45.30% |
| 2017 | 54.27% | 45.73% |
| 2018 | 51.85% | 48.15% |
| 2019 | 53.86% | 46.14% |
| 2020 | 51.61% | 48.39% |
| 2021 | 49.82% | 50.18% |
Leader related jobs gender ratio
We compared leaders 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% |
| Leader | 50% | 50% |
| 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%
Leader demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among leaders is White, which makes up 61.2% of all leaders. Comparatively, 17.0% of leaders are Hispanic or Latino and 11.9% of leaders are Black or African American.
- White, 61.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.0%
- Black or African American, 11.9%
- Asian, 5.0%
- Unknown, 4.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Leader race
| Leader race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 61.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.0% |
| Black or African American | 11.9% |
| Asian | 5.0% |
| Unknown | 4.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Leader race and ethnicity over time
See how leader racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Leader race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.86% | 11.45% | 4.35% | 14.40% |
| 2011 | 68.04% | 11.36% | 4.31% | 14.47% |
| 2012 | 67.32% | 11.36% | 4.28% | 14.99% |
| 2013 | 68.67% | 10.47% | 4.48% | 14.58% |
| 2014 | 67.03% | 10.87% | 4.71% | 15.27% |
| 2015 | 67.08% | 11.07% | 4.41% | 15.54% |
| 2016 | 66.11% | 11.08% | 4.54% | 16.25% |
| 2017 | 65.54% | 11.67% | 5.05% | 15.46% |
| 2018 | 66.83% | 10.80% | 4.64% | 15.80% |
| 2019 | 65.14% | 11.34% | 4.88% | 16.56% |
| 2020 | 64.04% | 10.94% | 5.04% | 15.74% |
| 2021 | 61.18% | 11.93% | 5.05% | 16.98% |
Leader wage gap by race
According to our data, white leaders have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american leaders have the lowest average salary at $95,136.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $99,284 |
| White | $108,056 |
| Black or African American | $95,136 |
| Asian | $107,722 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $102,102 |
Average leader age
See how the average age of leaders varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Leader 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 |
Leader age breakdown
The average age of leaders is 40+ years years old, representing 71% of the leader population.
Leader age breakdown
| Leader Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 23% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Leader educational attainment
The most common degree for leaders is bachelor's degree, with 64% of leaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 11% and associate degree degree at 10%.
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Associate, 11%
- Master's, 10%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Leaders by degree level
| Leader degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 64% |
| Associate | 11% |
| Master's | 10% |
| High School Diploma | 9% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Leader jobs you might like
Leader wage gap by degree level
According to the data, leaders with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $137,229 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, leaders earn a median annual income of $111,794 compared to $94,626 for leaders with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $137,229 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $82,186 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $111,794 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $94,626 |
Leader employment statistics
Most leaders work for a public in the technology industry.
Company size where leaders work
Below, you can see the size of companies where leaders work.
Leader jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 7% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 14% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 47% |
Leader jobs by company type
Employees with the leader job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most leaders prefer to work at public companies over private companies.
Leader jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 3% |
| Public | 47% |
| Private | 45% |
| Government | 4% |
Leader jobs by industry
The most common industries for leaders are technology, professional and hospitality.
Leader industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 20% |
| Technology | 15% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Hospitality | 7% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Education | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Leader turnover and employment statistics
Leader unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for leaders between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Leader unemployment rate by year
| Year | Leader 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 leader tenure
The average leader stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 64,592 leaders resumes in Zippia's database.
Leader tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 26% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Leader LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of leaders 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Spreader Operator | 2.37% | 60,297 |
| Machine Set Up Operator | 2.83% | 61,986 |
| Technical Inspector | 3.84% | 83,675 |
| Laundry Aide | 5.06% | 45,254 |
| Leader | 5.63% | - |
| Petroleum Supply Specialist | 9.20% | 17,014 |
| Scanner Operator | 20.58% | 29,750 |
Similar leader jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Spreader Operator | 2.37% | 60,297 |
| Machine Set Up Operator | 2.83% | 61,986 |
| Technical Inspector | 3.84% | 83,675 |
| Laundry Aide | 5.06% | 45,254 |
| Petroleum Supply Specialist | 9.20% | 17,014 |
| Scanner Operator | 20.58% | 29,750 |
Foreign languages spoken by leaders
The most common foreign language among leaders is Spanish at 50.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.9% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 6.5%.
- Spanish, 50.7%
- French, 10.9%
- Chinese, 6.5%
- Mandarin, 6.2%
- German, 3.8%
- Other, 21.9%
Leader languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 50.7% |
| French | 10.9% |
| Chinese | 6.5% |
| Mandarin | 6.2% |
| German | 3.8% |
| Other | 21.9% |
