Observer demographics and statistics in the US
Observer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates observer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our observer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about observers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,928 observers currently employed in the United States.
- 44.6% of all observers are women, while 55.4% are men.
- The average observer age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of observers is White (51.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.5%), Black or African American (17.4%) and Unknown (6.1%).
- In 2022, women earned 98% of what men earned.
- 6% of all observers are LGBT.
- Observers are 67% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On this page
Observer demographics by:
Observer gender statistics
44.6% of observers are women and 55.4% of observers are men.
- Male, 55.4%
- Female, 44.6%
Observer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 55.4% |
| Female | 44.6% |
Observer gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$40,383
Female income
$39,640
Observer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in observer positions over time. Currently, 44.6% of observers are female.
Observer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 58.79% | 41.21% |
| 2011 | 57.13% | 42.87% |
| 2012 | 58.75% | 41.25% |
| 2013 | 58.91% | 41.09% |
| 2014 | 57.78% | 42.22% |
| 2015 | 58.73% | 41.27% |
| 2016 | 58.22% | 41.78% |
| 2017 | 56.58% | 43.42% |
| 2018 | 57.70% | 42.30% |
| 2019 | 57.05% | 42.95% |
| 2020 | 54.28% | 45.72% |
| 2021 | 55.39% | 44.61% |
Observer related jobs gender ratio
We compared observers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, rescue boat operator and bodyguard have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Playground Monitor | 18% | 82% |
| School Crossing Guard | 21% | 79% |
| Crossing Guard | 23% | 77% |
| Observer | 55% | 45% |
| Bouncer | 94% | 6% |
| Bodyguard | 96% | 4% |
| Rescue Boat Operator | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Observer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among observers is White, which makes up 51.3% of all observers. Comparatively, 17.5% of observers are Hispanic or Latino and 17.4% of observers are Black or African American.
- White, 51.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 17.5%
- Black or African American, 17.4%
- Unknown, 6.1%
- Asian, 5.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0%
Observer race
| Observer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 51.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 17.5% |
| Black or African American | 17.4% |
| Unknown | 6.1% |
| Asian | 5.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.0% |
Observer race and ethnicity over time
See how observer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Observer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60.86% | 17.77% | 4.54% | 12.32% |
| 2011 | 58.81% | 17.71% | 4.51% | 13.90% |
| 2012 | 58.47% | 17.99% | 4.44% | 14.01% |
| 2013 | 58.80% | 17.55% | 4.70% | 14.10% |
| 2014 | 57.49% | 18.39% | 4.40% | 14.43% |
| 2015 | 57.12% | 17.82% | 4.89% | 14.89% |
| 2016 | 56.75% | 17.59% | 4.67% | 15.76% |
| 2017 | 56.65% | 18.51% | 4.34% | 15.57% |
| 2018 | 56.90% | 17.39% | 4.54% | 15.57% |
| 2019 | 55.89% | 18.10% | 5.36% | 15.44% |
| 2020 | 51.22% | 18.66% | 5.41% | 16.82% |
| 2021 | 51.34% | 17.44% | 5.74% | 17.46% |
Observer wage gap by race
According to our data, white observers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown observers have the lowest average salary at $39,436.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $39,436 |
| White | $40,861 |
| Black or African American | $40,560 |
| Asian | $40,835 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $40,241 |
Average observer age
See how the average age of observers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Observer age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 41 |
| Unknown | 37.5 | 39 |
| Asian | 45 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 36.5 |
| White | 45 | 47 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 38.5 | 37 |
Observer age breakdown
The average age of observers is 40+ years years old, representing 56% of the observer population.
Observer age breakdown
| Observer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 56% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Observer educational attainment
The most common degree for observers is bachelor's degree, with 59% of observers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 12% and associate degree degree at 9%.
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Associate, 12%
- Master's, 9%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 11%
Observers by degree level
| Observer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 59% |
| Associate | 12% |
| Master's | 9% |
| High School Diploma | 9% |
| Other Degrees | 11% |
Observer jobs you might like
Observer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, observers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $50,236 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, observers earn a median annual income of $43,364 compared to $39,196 for observers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,236 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,967 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,364 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,196 |
Observer employment statistics
Most observers work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where observers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where observers work.
Observer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 32% |
| > 10,000 employees | 15% |
Observer jobs by company type
Employees with the observer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most observers prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Observer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 21% |
| Public | 7% |
| Private | 67% |
| Government | 4% |
Observer jobs by industry
The most common industries for observers are health care, education and professional.
Observer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 49% |
| Education | 16% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Non Profits | 5% |
| Government | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Fortune 500 | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Observer turnover and employment statistics
Observer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for observers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Observer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Observer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 12.24% |
| 2011 | 11.62% |
| 2012 | 10.40% |
| 2013 | 9.08% |
| 2014 | 8.18% |
| 2015 | 7.21% |
| 2016 | 6.47% |
| 2017 | 5.77% |
| 2018 | 5.47% |
| 2019 | 4.75% |
| 2020 | 6.85% |
| 2021 | 7.46% |
Average observer tenure
The average observer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 9,391 observers resumes in Zippia's database.
Observer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 48% |
| 1-2 years | 22% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 10% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Observer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of observers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| School Patrol | 3.84% | 39,950 |
| Observer | 6.29% | - |
| Monitor | 7.17% | 5,558 |
| Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard | 7.20% | 12,052 |
| Investigator | 8.27% | 5,085 |
| Airport Screener | 15.51% | 2,474 |
Similar observer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| School Patrol | 3.84% | 39,950 |
| Monitor | 7.17% | 5,558 |
| Lifeguard/Head Lifeguard | 7.20% | 12,052 |
| Investigator | 8.27% | 5,085 |
| Airport Screener | 15.51% | 2,474 |
Foreign languages spoken by observers
The most common foreign language among observers is Spanish at 43.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 9.6% and Hindi is the third-most popular at 7.4%.
- Spanish, 43.1%
- French, 9.6%
- Hindi, 7.4%
- Arabic, 5.1%
- Mandarin, 4.5%
- Other, 30.3%
Observer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 43.1% |
| French | 9.6% |
| Hindi | 7.4% |
| Arabic | 5.1% |
| Mandarin | 4.5% |
| Other | 30.3% |
