Principal investigator demographics and statistics in the US
Principal investigator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates principal investigator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our principal investigator 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 investigators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 8,396 principal investigators currently employed in the United States.
- 47.8% of all principal investigators are women, while 52.2% are men.
- The average principal investigator age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of principal investigators is White (66.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.0%), Black or African American (10.3%) and Asian (4.3%).
- Principal investigators are most in-demand in Silver Spring, MD.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $124,349, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women principal investigators earned 94% of what men earned.
- Oregon is the best state for principal investigators to live.
- Principal investigators are 49% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Principal investigator demographics by:
Principal investigator gender statistics
47.8% of principal investigators are women and 52.2% of principal investigators are men.
- Male, 52.2%
- Female, 47.8%
Principal investigator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 52.2% |
| Female | 47.8% |
Principal investigator gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$83,695
Female income
$78,462
Principal investigator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in principal investigator positions over time. Currently, 47.8% of principal investigators are female.
Principal investigator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55.78% | 44.22% |
| 2011 | 55.86% | 44.14% |
| 2012 | 54.27% | 45.73% |
| 2013 | 56.45% | 43.55% |
| 2014 | 54.79% | 45.21% |
| 2015 | 54.52% | 45.48% |
| 2016 | 54.97% | 45.03% |
| 2017 | 53.39% | 46.61% |
| 2018 | 54.21% | 45.79% |
| 2019 | 52.61% | 47.39% |
| 2020 | 53.46% | 46.54% |
| 2021 | 52.25% | 47.75% |
Principal investigator related jobs gender ratio
We compared principal investigators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, pipeline superintendent and agronomy research manager have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Community Health Nursing Director | 7% | 93% |
| Early Childhood Services Coordinator | 7% | 93% |
| Tourist Home Keeper | 8% | 92% |
| Principal Investigator | 52% | 48% |
| Station Superintendent | 98% | 2% |
| Agronomy Research Manager | 98% | 2% |
| Pipeline Superintendent | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Principal investigator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among principal investigators is White, which makes up 66.7% of all principal investigators. Comparatively, 14.0% of principal investigators are Hispanic or Latino and 10.3% of principal investigators are Black or African American.
- White, 66.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.0%
- Black or African American, 10.3%
- Asian, 4.3%
- Unknown, 4.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Principal investigator race
| Principal investigator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.0% |
| Black or African American | 10.3% |
| Asian | 4.3% |
| Unknown | 4.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Principal investigator race and ethnicity over time
See how principal investigator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Principal investigator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.35% | 11.48% | 3.81% | 11.18% |
| 2011 | 71.04% | 11.49% | 3.33% | 11.70% |
| 2012 | 70.91% | 11.13% | 3.68% | 11.91% |
| 2013 | 70.53% | 11.04% | 3.71% | 12.12% |
| 2014 | 70.05% | 10.66% | 4.23% | 12.67% |
| 2015 | 70.25% | 10.72% | 3.90% | 12.35% |
| 2016 | 69.84% | 10.16% | 4.27% | 12.98% |
| 2017 | 69.50% | 10.11% | 4.46% | 13.58% |
| 2018 | 69.54% | 10.27% | 4.40% | 13.36% |
| 2019 | 69.93% | 9.39% | 4.54% | 13.59% |
| 2020 | 68.75% | 9.32% | 4.66% | 12.93% |
| 2021 | 66.68% | 10.32% | 4.31% | 14.00% |
Principal investigator wage gap by race
According to our data, asian principal investigators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White principal investigators have the lowest average salary at $82,302.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $84,416 |
| White | $82,302 |
| Black or African American | $82,735 |
| Asian | $84,563 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $84,485 |
Average principal investigator age
See how the average age of principal investigators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Principal investigator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 47 | 49 |
| Unknown | 46 | 45 |
| Asian | 44 | 45.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 48 | 45 |
| White | 48 | 48 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 49.5 | 46 |
Principal investigator age breakdown
The average age of principal investigators is 40+ years years old, representing 75% of the principal investigator population.
Principal investigator age breakdown
| Principal Investigator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 75% |
| 30-40 years | 21% |
| 20-30 years | 3% |
Principal investigator educational attainment
The most common degree for principal investigators is bachelor's degree, with 53% of principal investigators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 21% and master's degree degree at 20%.
- Bachelor's, 53%
- Master's, 21%
- Doctorate, 20%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Principal investigators by degree level
| Principal investigator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 53% |
| Master's | 21% |
| Doctorate | 20% |
| Associate | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Principal investigator jobs you might like
Principal investigator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, principal investigators with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $106,465 annually. With a Master's degree, principal investigators earn a median annual income of $96,266 compared to $83,393 for principal investigators with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $96,266 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $83,393 |
| Doctorate Degree | $106,465 |
Principal investigator employment statistics
Most principal investigators work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where principal investigators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where principal investigators work.
Principal investigator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 10% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 18% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 34% |
| > 10,000 employees | 29% |
Principal investigator jobs by company type
Employees with the principal investigator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most principal investigators prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Principal investigator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 49% |
| Public | 16% |
| Private | 28% |
| Government | 7% |
Principal investigator jobs by industry
The most common industries for principal investigators are education, technology and health care.
Principal investigator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 39% |
| Technology | 10% |
| Health Care | 9% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Pharmaceutical | 6% |
| Government | 5% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
Principal investigator turnover and employment statistics
Principal investigator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for principal investigators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Principal investigator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Principal investigator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.73% |
| 2011 | 2.70% |
| 2012 | 2.57% |
| 2013 | 2.68% |
| 2014 | 2.05% |
| 2015 | 1.69% |
| 2016 | 1.71% |
| 2017 | 1.44% |
| 2018 | 1.35% |
| 2019 | 1.23% |
| 2020 | 1.84% |
| 2021 | 1.95% |
Average principal investigator tenure
The average principal investigator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 4,260 principal investigators resumes in Zippia's database.
Principal investigator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 36% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Principal investigator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of principal investigators 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Area Superintendent | 4.08% | 31,923 |
| Table Games Shift Manager | 8.19% | 56,123 |
| Mail Superintendent | 9.30% | 28,668 |
| Development And Housing Director | 11.54% | 52,422 |
| Hospital Superintendent | 11.66% | 13,141 |
| Social Welfare Administrator | 14.16% | 76,644 |
| Principal Investigator | 16.21% | - |
Similar principal investigator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Area Superintendent | 4.08% | 31,923 |
| Table Games Shift Manager | 8.19% | 56,123 |
| Mail Superintendent | 9.30% | 28,668 |
| Development And Housing Director | 11.54% | 52,422 |
| Hospital Superintendent | 11.66% | 13,141 |
| Social Welfare Administrator | 14.16% | 76,644 |
Foreign languages spoken by principal investigators
The most common foreign language among principal investigators is Spanish at 38.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 14.3% and Russian is the third-most popular at 6.3%.
- Spanish, 38.6%
- French, 14.3%
- Russian, 6.3%
- Portuguese, 4.8%
- Chinese, 4.8%
- Other, 31.2%
Principal investigator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 38.6% |
| French | 14.3% |
| Russian | 6.3% |
| Portuguese | 4.8% |
| Chinese | 4.8% |
| Other | 31.2% |
