Principal designer demographics and statistics in the US
Principal designer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates principal designer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our principal designer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about principal designers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 13,081 principal designers currently employed in the United States.
- 33.4% of all principal designers are women, while 66.6% are men.
- The average principal designer age is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of principal designers is White (70.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (10.6%), Asian (10.4%) and Unknown (5.0%).
- Principal designers are most in-demand in Eden Prairie, MN.
- Olympia, WA pays an annual average wage of $197,057, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women principal designers earned 94% of what men earned.
- Oregon is the best state for principal designers to live.
- Principal designers are 63% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Principal designer demographics by:
Principal designer gender statistics
33.4% of principal designers are women and 66.6% of principal designers are men.
- Male, 66.6%
- Female, 33.4%
Principal designer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 66.6% |
| Female | 33.4% |
Principal designer gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$124,903
Female income
$117,830
Principal designer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in principal designer positions over time. Currently, 33.4% of principal designers are female.
Principal designer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.71% | 31.29% |
| 2011 | 68.93% | 31.07% |
| 2012 | 68.22% | 31.78% |
| 2013 | 70.33% | 29.67% |
| 2014 | 68.45% | 31.55% |
| 2015 | 69.10% | 30.90% |
| 2016 | 68.14% | 31.86% |
| 2017 | 67.28% | 32.72% |
| 2018 | 69.21% | 30.79% |
| 2019 | 66.41% | 33.59% |
| 2020 | 66.47% | 33.53% |
| 2021 | 66.58% | 33.42% |
Principal designer related jobs gender ratio
We compared principal designers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, exhibit builder and senior industrial designer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating Consultant | 9% | 91% |
| Floral Designer | 11% | 89% |
| Floral Manager | 11% | 89% |
| Principal Designer | 67% | 33% |
| Craftsman | 88% | 12% |
| Senior Industrial Designer | 91% | 9% |
| Exhibit Builder | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Principal designer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among principal designers is White, which makes up 70.2% of all principal designers. Comparatively, 10.6% of principal designers are Hispanic or Latino and 10.4% of principal designers are Asian.
- White, 70.2%
- Hispanic or Latino, 10.6%
- Asian, 10.4%
- Unknown, 5.0%
- Black or African American, 3.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Principal designer race
| Principal designer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 70.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.6% |
| Asian | 10.4% |
| Unknown | 5.0% |
| Black or African American | 3.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Principal designer race and ethnicity over time
See how principal designer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Principal designer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 80.32% | 3.37% | 6.45% | 8.15% |
| 2011 | 79.15% | 3.38% | 7.00% | 8.33% |
| 2012 | 78.60% | 3.42% | 6.69% | 9.26% |
| 2013 | 79.01% | 3.39% | 7.37% | 8.05% |
| 2014 | 78.43% | 3.15% | 7.37% | 8.85% |
| 2015 | 77.58% | 3.31% | 7.11% | 9.89% |
| 2016 | 77.09% | 3.54% | 7.72% | 9.34% |
| 2017 | 77.04% | 3.17% | 8.01% | 9.29% |
| 2018 | 74.98% | 3.33% | 8.26% | 10.34% |
| 2019 | 76.12% | 3.50% | 7.60% | 10.19% |
| 2020 | 74.32% | 3.04% | 7.13% | 10.91% |
| 2021 | 70.17% | 3.42% | 10.42% | 10.63% |
Principal designer wage gap by race
According to our data, asian principal designers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White principal designers have the lowest average salary at $119,236.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $129,584 |
| White | $119,236 |
| Black or African American | $119,622 |
| Asian | $135,354 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $121,512 |
Average principal designer age
See how the average age of principal designers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Principal designer age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 40 | 33 |
| White | 40 | 35 |
| Black or African American | 38 | 34 |
| Asian | 36 | 33 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 36 | 31 |
Principal designer age breakdown
The average age of principal designers is 40+ years years old, representing 42% of the principal designer population.
Principal designer age breakdown
| Principal Designer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 42% |
| 30-40 years | 35% |
| 20-30 years | 24% |
Principal designer educational attainment
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Associate, 18%
- Master's, 12%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Principal designers by degree level
| Principal designer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 64% |
| Associate | 18% |
| Master's | 12% |
| Diploma | 2% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Principal designer jobs you might like
Principal designer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, principal designers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $151,799 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, principal designers earn a median annual income of $136,439 compared to $119,568 for principal designers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $151,799 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $136,439 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $119,568 |
Principal designer employment statistics
Most principal designers work for a private in the technology industry.
Company size where principal designers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where principal designers work.
Principal designer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 25% |
| > 10,000 employees | 26% |
Principal designer jobs by company type
Employees with the principal designer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most principal designers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Principal designer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 34% |
| Private | 63% |
| Government | 1% |
Principal designer jobs by industry
The most common industries for principal designers are technology, manufacturing and professional.
Principal designer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Technology | 21% |
| Manufacturing | 14% |
| Professional | 14% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Energy | 6% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Government | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Principal designer turnover and employment statistics
Principal designer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for principal designers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Principal designer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Principal designer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.84% |
| 2011 | 7.82% |
| 2012 | 7.12% |
| 2013 | 5.32% |
| 2014 | 4.78% |
| 2015 | 4.60% |
| 2016 | 4.15% |
| 2017 | 3.61% |
| 2018 | 3.55% |
| 2019 | 3.78% |
| 2020 | 6.80% |
| 2021 | 7.79% |
Average principal designer tenure
The average principal designer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,621 principal designers resumes in Zippia's database.
Principal designer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 10% |
| 1-2 years | 23% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 8% |
| 11+ years | 29% |
Principal designer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of principal designers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mural Artist | 11.32% | 3,597 |
| Stage Set Designer | 12.35% | 45,818 |
| Principal Designer | 13.05% | - |
| Florist Designer | 14.26% | 43,831 |
| Visual Merchandiser | 16.91% | 74,351 |
| Athletic Shoe Designer | 17.98% | 46,419 |
| Director Of Interiors | 22.51% | 10,606 |
Similar principal designer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Mural Artist | 11.32% | 3,597 |
| Stage Set Designer | 12.35% | 45,818 |
| Florist Designer | 14.26% | 43,831 |
| Visual Merchandiser | 16.91% | 74,351 |
| Athletic Shoe Designer | 17.98% | 46,419 |
| Director Of Interiors | 22.51% | 10,606 |
Foreign languages spoken by principal designers
The most common foreign language among principal designers is Spanish at 36.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.9% and German is the third-most popular at 11.1%.
- Spanish, 36.1%
- French, 13.9%
- German, 11.1%
- Chinese, 5.6%
- Mandarin, 5.6%
- Other, 27.7%
Principal designer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 36.1% |
| French | 13.9% |
| German | 11.1% |
| Chinese | 5.6% |
| Mandarin | 5.6% |
| Other | 27.7% |
