Lift operator demographics and statistics in the US
Lift operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates lift operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our lift 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 lift operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 466,750 lift operators currently employed in the United States.
- 10.9% of all lift operators are women, while 89.1% are men.
- The average lift operator age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of lift operators is White (59.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.0%), Black or African American (15.4%) and Unknown (4.5%).
- Lift operators are most in-demand in Florence, KY.
- The automotive industry is the highest-paying for lift operators.
- 4% of all lift operators are LGBT.
On this page
Lift operator demographics by:
Lift operator gender statistics
10.9% of lift operators are women and 89.1% of lift operators are men.
- Male, 89.1%
- Female, 10.9%
Lift operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 89.1% |
| Female | 10.9% |
Lift operator gender pay gap
Women earn 99¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$32,495
Female income
$32,163
Lift operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in lift operator positions over time. Currently, 10.9% of lift operators are female.
Lift operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 89.21% | 10.79% |
| 2011 | 88.89% | 11.11% |
| 2012 | 90.33% | 9.67% |
| 2013 | 90.58% | 9.42% |
| 2014 | 89.99% | 10.01% |
| 2015 | 91.22% | 8.78% |
| 2016 | 90.35% | 9.65% |
| 2017 | 88.92% | 11.08% |
| 2018 | 88.75% | 11.25% |
| 2019 | 89.78% | 10.22% |
| 2020 | 88.54% | 11.46% |
| 2021 | 89.05% | 10.95% |
Lift operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared lift operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Wrapper | 12% | 88% |
| Gift Packer | 18% | 82% |
| Pill Packer | 19% | 81% |
| Lift Operator | 89% | 11% |
| Green Chain Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tower Crane Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Dredge Operator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Lift operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among lift operators is White, which makes up 59.6% of all lift operators. Comparatively, 17.0% of lift operators are Hispanic or Latino and 15.4% of lift operators are Black or African American.
- White, 59.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.0%
- Black or African American, 15.4%
- Unknown, 4.5%
- Asian, 2.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Lift operator race
| Lift operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.0% |
| Black or African American | 15.4% |
| Unknown | 4.5% |
| Asian | 2.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Lift operator race and ethnicity over time
See how lift operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Lift operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.33% | 15.67% | 2.52% | 14.85% |
| 2011 | 63.06% | 15.62% | 2.48% | 16.34% |
| 2012 | 63.72% | 15.36% | 2.41% | 15.87% |
| 2013 | 63.34% | 15.06% | 2.59% | 16.23% |
| 2014 | 63.26% | 14.90% | 2.85% | 16.06% |
| 2015 | 64.72% | 13.61% | 2.47% | 16.49% |
| 2016 | 62.16% | 16.46% | 2.37% | 16.30% |
| 2017 | 63.71% | 14.42% | 2.56% | 16.56% |
| 2018 | 62.21% | 15.10% | 2.99% | 16.66% |
| 2019 | 65.15% | 13.73% | 2.64% | 15.43% |
| 2020 | 59.94% | 15.75% | 2.90% | 15.87% |
| 2021 | 59.58% | 15.44% | 2.61% | 17.05% |
Lift operator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian lift operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american lift operators have the lowest average salary at $31,776.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $32,541 |
| White | $32,519 |
| Black or African American | $31,776 |
| Asian | $33,254 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $32,404 |
Average lift operator age
See how the average age of lift operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Lift operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 44 | 37 |
| Unknown | 40 | 44 |
| Asian | 42.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42 | 42 |
| White | 45 | 49.5 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 34 |
Lift operator age breakdown
The average age of lift operators is 40+ years years old, representing 60% of the lift operator population.
Lift operator age breakdown
| Lift Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 60% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 17% |
Lift operator educational attainment
The most common degree for lift operators is high school diploma, with 53% of lift operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 15% and bachelor's degree degree at 14%.
- High School Diploma, 53%
- Bachelor's, 15%
- Associate, 14%
- Diploma, 12%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Lift operators by degree level
| Lift operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 53% |
| Bachelor's | 15% |
| Associate | 14% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Lift operator jobs you might like
Lift operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, lift operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $33,219 annually. With a High School Diploma degree, lift operators earn a median annual income of $32,569 compared to $32,509 for lift operators with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,569 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $32,509 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $33,219 |
Lift operator employment statistics
Most lift operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where lift operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where lift operators work.
Lift operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 10% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 18% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 38% |
Lift operator jobs by company type
Employees with the lift operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most lift operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Lift operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 35% |
| Private | 61% |
| Government | 3% |
Lift operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for lift operators are manufacturing, retail and hospitality.
Lift operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 17% |
| Manufacturing | 15% |
| Retail | 14% |
| Hospitality | 12% |
| Transportation | 11% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Automotive | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Lift operator turnover and employment statistics
Lift operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for lift operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lift operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Lift operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 17.04% |
| 2011 | 14.60% |
| 2012 | 12.67% |
| 2013 | 10.05% |
| 2014 | 9.10% |
| 2015 | 6.72% |
| 2016 | 6.89% |
| 2017 | 5.99% |
| 2018 | 5.33% |
| 2019 | 4.81% |
| 2020 | 7.22% |
| 2021 | 6.71% |
Average lift operator tenure
The average lift operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 23,546 lift operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Lift operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 33% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 11% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Lift operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of lift 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clamshell Operator | 1.94% | 29,915 |
| Lift Operator | 3.85% | - |
| Disposal Worker | 4.13% | 19,911 |
| Tube Blower | 4.59% | 142 |
| Dry Kiln Loader | 4.67% | 3,545 |
| Boxer | 6.68% | 3,030 |
| Wire Charger | 10.43% | 342 |
Similar lift operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Clamshell Operator | 1.94% | 29,915 |
| Disposal Worker | 4.13% | 19,911 |
| Tube Blower | 4.59% | 142 |
| Dry Kiln Loader | 4.67% | 3,545 |
| Boxer | 6.68% | 3,030 |
| Wire Charger | 10.43% | 342 |
Foreign languages spoken by lift operators
The most common foreign language among lift operators is Spanish at 71.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.7% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 5.0%.
- Spanish, 71.8%
- French, 5.7%
- Portuguese, 5.0%
- Carrier, 2.7%
- Arabic, 1.9%
- Other, 12.9%
Lift operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 71.8% |
| French | 5.7% |
| Portuguese | 5.0% |
| Carrier | 2.7% |
| Arabic | 1.9% |
| Other | 12.9% |
