Mainframe operator demographics and statistics in the US
Mainframe operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates mainframe operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our mainframe 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 mainframe operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 20,087 mainframe operators currently employed in the United States.
- 15.8% of all mainframe operators are women, while 84.2% are men.
- The average mainframe operator age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of mainframe operators is White (63.8%), followed by Asian (12.3%), Hispanic or Latino (9.9%) and Black or African American (8.6%).
- In 2022, women earned 96% of what men earned.
- 10% of all mainframe operators are LGBT.
- Mainframe operators are 56% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Mainframe operator demographics by:
Mainframe operator gender statistics
15.8% of mainframe operators are women and 84.2% of mainframe operators are men.
- Male, 84.2%
- Female, 15.8%
Mainframe operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 84.2% |
| Female | 15.8% |
Mainframe operator gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,658
Female income
$44,852
Mainframe operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in mainframe operator positions over time. Currently, 15.8% of mainframe operators are female.
Mainframe operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.20% | 35.80% |
| 2011 | 65.78% | 34.22% |
| 2012 | 64.25% | 35.75% |
| 2013 | 66.18% | 33.82% |
| 2014 | 66.55% | 33.45% |
| 2015 | 63.96% | 36.04% |
| 2016 | 65.37% | 34.63% |
| 2017 | 68.79% | 31.21% |
| 2018 | 84.11% | 15.89% |
| 2019 | 82.77% | 17.23% |
| 2020 | 84.56% | 15.44% |
| 2021 | 84.23% | 15.77% |
Mainframe operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared mainframe operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, blueprint reader and recovery operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical Typist | 6% | 94% |
| Medical Typist | 7% | 93% |
| Insurance Biller | 7% | 93% |
| Mainframe Operator | 84% | 16% |
| High Speed Printer Operator | 85% | 15% |
| Recovery Operator | 88% | 12% |
| Blueprint Reader | 95% | 5% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Mainframe operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among mainframe operators is White, which makes up 63.8% of all mainframe operators. Comparatively, 12.3% of mainframe operators are Asian and 9.9% of mainframe operators are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 63.8%
- Asian, 12.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.9%
- Black or African American, 8.6%
- Unknown, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Mainframe operator race
| Mainframe operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 63.8% |
| Asian | 12.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.9% |
| Black or African American | 8.6% |
| Unknown | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Mainframe operator race and ethnicity over time
See how mainframe operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Mainframe operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.78% | 10.52% | 5.87% | 7.88% |
| 2011 | 74.43% | 11.10% | 4.20% | 7.98% |
| 2012 | 71.73% | 11.83% | 5.43% | 8.73% |
| 2013 | 70.23% | 12.13% | 6.03% | 8.79% |
| 2014 | 72.66% | 8.61% | 6.05% | 10.12% |
| 2015 | 70.33% | 10.25% | 6.55% | 10.08% |
| 2016 | 68.81% | 10.85% | 6.53% | 10.85% |
| 2017 | 69.45% | 10.26% | 6.29% | 10.93% |
| 2018 | 69.09% | 7.92% | 11.69% | 8.14% |
| 2019 | 68.17% | 8.49% | 11.66% | 8.86% |
| 2020 | 63.99% | 8.46% | 12.15% | 10.39% |
| 2021 | 63.75% | 8.59% | 12.32% | 9.87% |
Mainframe operator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian mainframe operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino mainframe operators have the lowest average salary at $45,652.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $45,685 |
| White | $46,323 |
| Black or African American | $46,001 |
| Asian | $49,753 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $45,652 |
Average mainframe operator age
See how the average age of mainframe operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Mainframe operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 42 |
| Unknown | 41 | 41 |
| Asian | 42 | 42 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40 | 40.5 |
| White | 44 | 48 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 36 | 42 |
Mainframe operator age breakdown
The average age of mainframe operators is 40+ years years old, representing 62% of the mainframe operator population.
Mainframe operator age breakdown
| Mainframe Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 62% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 11% |
Mainframe operator educational attainment
The most common degree for mainframe operators is bachelor's degree, with 45% of mainframe operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 35% and associate degree degree at 10%.
- Bachelor's, 45%
- Associate, 35%
- High School Diploma, 10%
- Master's, 5%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Mainframe operators by degree level
| Mainframe operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 45% |
| Associate | 35% |
| High School Diploma | 10% |
| Master's | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Mainframe operator jobs you might like
Mainframe operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, mainframe operators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $52,039 annually. With a Doctorate degree, mainframe operators earn a median annual income of $50,837 compared to $48,623 for mainframe operators with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $52,039 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,237 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $48,623 |
| Doctorate Degree | $50,837 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,094 |
Mainframe operator employment statistics
Most mainframe operators work for a private in the finance industry.
Company size where mainframe operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where mainframe operators work.
Mainframe operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 13% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 16% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 36% |
Mainframe operator jobs by company type
Employees with the mainframe operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most mainframe operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Mainframe operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 7% |
| Public | 32% |
| Private | 56% |
| Government | 5% |
Mainframe operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for mainframe operators are finance, technology and manufacturing.
Mainframe operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Finance | 17% |
| Fortune 500 | 16% |
| Technology | 12% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Retail | 7% |
| Professional | 7% |
| Education | 6% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Government | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Insurance | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Mainframe operator turnover and employment statistics
Mainframe operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for mainframe operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mainframe operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Mainframe operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.49% |
| 2011 | 8.75% |
| 2012 | 6.38% |
| 2013 | 7.50% |
| 2014 | 5.73% |
| 2015 | 4.44% |
| 2016 | 3.46% |
| 2017 | 3.72% |
| 2018 | 2.51% |
| 2019 | 2.84% |
| 2020 | 3.82% |
| 2021 | 3.65% |
Average mainframe operator tenure
The average mainframe operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 386 mainframe operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Mainframe operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 15% |
| 1-2 years | 37% |
| 3-4 years | 18% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Mainframe operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of mainframe 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Data Entry/Receptionist | 4.67% | 99,028 |
| Business Office Specialist | 5.99% | 126,793 |
| Mailing Machine Assistant | 7.17% | 30,260 |
| Mainframe Operator | 10.21% | - |
| Cancellation Clerk | 11.18% | 66,320 |
| Record Tabulating Clerk | 11.19% | 66,589 |
| Business Machine Operator | 14.20% | 97,700 |
Similar mainframe operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Data Entry/Receptionist | 4.67% | 99,028 |
| Business Office Specialist | 5.99% | 126,793 |
| Mailing Machine Assistant | 7.17% | 30,260 |
| Cancellation Clerk | 11.18% | 66,320 |
| Record Tabulating Clerk | 11.19% | 66,589 |
| Business Machine Operator | 14.20% | 97,700 |
Foreign languages spoken by mainframe operators
The most common foreign language among mainframe operators is Spanish at 40.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is German at 20.0% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 10.0%.
- Spanish, 40.0%
- German, 20.0%
- Portuguese, 10.0%
- Japanese, 10.0%
- French, 10.0%
- Other, 10.0%
Mainframe operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 40.0% |
| German | 20.0% |
| Portuguese | 10.0% |
| Japanese | 10.0% |
| French | 10.0% |
| Other | 10.0% |
