Manufacturing operator demographics and statistics in the US
Manufacturing operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates manufacturing operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our manufacturing 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 manufacturing operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 49,228 manufacturing operators currently employed in the United States.
- 30.8% of all manufacturing operators are women, while 69.2% are men.
- The average manufacturing operator age is 46 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of manufacturing operators is White (60.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.5%), Black or African American (8.8%) and Asian (4.5%).
- Manufacturing operators are most in-demand in San Jose, CA.
- The pharmaceutical industry is the highest-paying for manufacturing operators.
- Fort Collins, CO pays an annual average wage of $38,985, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women manufacturing operators earned 93% of what men earned.
- 6% of all manufacturing operators are LGBT.
- Wisconsin is the best state for manufacturing operators to live.
- Manufacturing operators are 51% more likely to work at public companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Manufacturing operator demographics by:
Manufacturing operator gender statistics
30.8% of manufacturing operators are women and 69.2% of manufacturing operators are men.
- Male, 69.2%
- Female, 30.8%
Manufacturing operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 69.2% |
| Female | 30.8% |
Manufacturing operator gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$36,942
Female income
$34,191
Manufacturing operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in manufacturing operator positions over time. Currently, 30.8% of manufacturing operators are female.
Manufacturing operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.44% | 26.56% |
| 2011 | 73.24% | 26.76% |
| 2012 | 74.09% | 25.91% |
| 2013 | 74.51% | 25.49% |
| 2014 | 73.86% | 26.14% |
| 2015 | 72.60% | 27.40% |
| 2016 | 73.17% | 26.83% |
| 2017 | 72.83% | 27.17% |
| 2018 | 70.87% | 29.13% |
| 2019 | 72.50% | 27.50% |
| 2020 | 70.66% | 29.34% |
| 2021 | 69.16% | 30.84% |
Manufacturing operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared manufacturing 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% |
| Manufacturing Operator | 69% | 31% |
| 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%
Manufacturing operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among manufacturing operators is White, which makes up 60.5% of all manufacturing operators. Comparatively, 21.5% of manufacturing operators are Hispanic or Latino and 8.8% of manufacturing operators are Black or African American.
- White, 60.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 21.5%
- Black or African American, 8.8%
- Asian, 4.5%
- Unknown, 4.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
Manufacturing operator race
| Manufacturing operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 60.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.5% |
| Black or African American | 8.8% |
| Asian | 4.5% |
| Unknown | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.6% |
Manufacturing operator race and ethnicity over time
See how manufacturing operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Manufacturing operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.18% | 8.27% | 3.77% | 18.95% |
| 2011 | 67.35% | 8.18% | 3.72% | 19.03% |
| 2012 | 66.64% | 8.18% | 3.70% | 19.54% |
| 2013 | 67.98% | 7.29% | 3.90% | 19.13% |
| 2014 | 66.35% | 7.68% | 4.13% | 19.82% |
| 2015 | 66.39% | 7.89% | 3.83% | 20.09% |
| 2016 | 65.43% | 7.89% | 3.96% | 20.81% |
| 2017 | 64.86% | 8.49% | 4.47% | 20.02% |
| 2018 | 66.14% | 7.62% | 4.05% | 20.36% |
| 2019 | 64.45% | 8.16% | 4.30% | 21.11% |
| 2020 | 63.35% | 7.76% | 4.46% | 20.29% |
| 2021 | 60.50% | 8.75% | 4.46% | 21.53% |
Manufacturing operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white manufacturing operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american manufacturing operators have the lowest average salary at $35,806.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $36,466 |
| White | $37,811 |
| Black or African American | $35,806 |
| Asian | $37,761 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $36,905 |
Average manufacturing operator age
See how the average age of manufacturing operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Manufacturing 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 |
Manufacturing operator age breakdown
The average age of manufacturing operators is 40+ years years old, representing 71% of the manufacturing operator population.
Manufacturing operator age breakdown
| Manufacturing Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 23% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Manufacturing operator educational attainment
The most common degree for manufacturing operators is bachelor's degree, with 45% of manufacturing operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 18%.
- Bachelor's, 45%
- Associate, 24%
- High School Diploma, 18%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Manufacturing operators by degree level
| Manufacturing operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 45% |
| Associate | 24% |
| High School Diploma | 18% |
| Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Manufacturing operator jobs you might like
Manufacturing operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, manufacturing operators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $41,881 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, manufacturing operators earn a median annual income of $38,365 compared to $35,724 for manufacturing operators with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $41,881 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $33,634 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $38,365 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $35,724 |
Manufacturing operator employment statistics
Most manufacturing operators work for a public in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where manufacturing operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where manufacturing operators work.
Manufacturing operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 7% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 12% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 31% |
| > 10,000 employees | 41% |
Manufacturing operator jobs by company type
Employees with the manufacturing operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most manufacturing operators prefer to work at public companies over private companies.
Manufacturing operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 51% |
| Private | 48% |
Manufacturing operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for manufacturing operators are manufacturing, pharmaceutical and technology.
Manufacturing operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Fortune 500 | 17% |
| Pharmaceutical | 13% |
| Technology | 11% |
| Health Care | 10% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Automotive | 4% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
Manufacturing operator turnover and employment statistics
Manufacturing operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for manufacturing operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Manufacturing operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Manufacturing 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 manufacturing operator tenure
The average manufacturing operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 5,177 manufacturing operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Manufacturing operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 22% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Manufacturing operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of manufacturing 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cutter | 1.60% | 4,831 |
| Plant Operator | 2.37% | 43,388 |
| Laser Operator | 2.83% | 56,479 |
| Meat Processor | 4.18% | 13,889 |
| Laundry Attendant | 5.06% | 49,030 |
| Manufacturing Operator | 5.63% | - |
| Scanner Operator | 20.58% | 29,750 |
Similar manufacturing operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Cutter | 1.60% | 4,831 |
| Plant Operator | 2.37% | 43,388 |
| Laser Operator | 2.83% | 56,479 |
| Meat Processor | 4.18% | 13,889 |
| Laundry Attendant | 5.06% | 49,030 |
| Scanner Operator | 20.58% | 29,750 |
Foreign languages spoken by manufacturing operators
The most common foreign language among manufacturing operators is Spanish at 85.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 2.5% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 1.6%.
- Spanish, 85.4%
- French, 2.5%
- Chinese, 1.6%
- Carrier, 1.3%
- Tagalog, 1.3%
- Other, 7.9%
Manufacturing operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 85.4% |
| French | 2.5% |
| Chinese | 1.6% |
| Carrier | 1.3% |
| Tagalog | 1.3% |
| Other | 7.9% |
