Principle investigator demographics and statistics in the US
Principle investigator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates principle investigator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our principle 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 principle investigators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 8,396 principle investigators currently employed in the United States.
- 50.1% of all principle investigators are women, while 49.9% are men.
- The average principle investigator age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of principle investigators is White (53.5%), followed by Asian (26.5%), Hispanic or Latino (9.5%) and Black or African American (6.3%).
- In 2022, women earned 101% of what men earned.
- 8% of all principle investigators are LGBT.
- Principle investigators are 50% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Principle investigator demographics by:
Principle investigator gender statistics
50.1% of principle investigators are women and 49.9% of principle investigators are men.
- Female, 50.1%
- Male, 49.9%
Principle investigator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 50.1% |
| Male | 49.9% |
Principle investigator gender pay gap
Women earn $1.01 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$75,523
Female income
$76,005
Principle investigator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in principle investigator positions over time. Currently, 50.1% of principle investigators are female.
Principle investigator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 54.36% | 45.64% |
| 2011 | 50.70% | 49.30% |
| 2012 | 57.07% | 42.93% |
| 2013 | 52.29% | 47.71% |
| 2014 | 53.33% | 46.67% |
| 2015 | 54.22% | 45.78% |
| 2016 | 49.59% | 50.41% |
| 2017 | 51.98% | 48.02% |
| 2018 | 50.60% | 49.40% |
| 2019 | 48.83% | 51.17% |
| 2020 | 48.63% | 51.37% |
| 2021 | 49.91% | 50.09% |
Principle investigator related jobs gender ratio
We compared principle investigators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, procurement forester and field agronomist have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Behaviorist | 18% | 82% |
| Chronic Disease Epidemiologist | 25% | 75% |
| Collector Of Aquarium Specimens | 27% | 73% |
| Principle Investigator | 50% | 50% |
| Forestry Consultant | 93% | 7% |
| Field Agronomist | 94% | 6% |
| Procurement Forester | 95% | 5% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Principle investigator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among principle investigators is White, which makes up 53.5% of all principle investigators. Comparatively, 26.5% of principle investigators are Asian and 9.5% of principle investigators are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 53.5%
- Asian, 26.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.5%
- Black or African American, 6.3%
- Unknown, 4.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
Principle investigator race
| Principle investigator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 53.5% |
| Asian | 26.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.5% |
| Black or African American | 6.3% |
| Unknown | 4.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.1% |
Principle investigator race and ethnicity over time
See how principle investigator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Principle investigator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 56.76% | 5.14% | 29.01% | 6.57% |
| 2011 | 55.51% | 5.56% | 29.48% | 7.22% |
| 2012 | 56.33% | 5.36% | 28.65% | 6.97% |
| 2013 | 56.92% | 5.46% | 27.25% | 7.71% |
| 2014 | 56.60% | 5.80% | 27.86% | 6.73% |
| 2015 | 56.72% | 5.24% | 28.65% | 6.68% |
| 2016 | 56.08% | 5.03% | 27.45% | 8.87% |
| 2017 | 56.22% | 5.89% | 26.94% | 7.79% |
| 2018 | 55.33% | 5.65% | 27.80% | 7.91% |
| 2019 | 56.71% | 5.30% | 27.01% | 8.29% |
| 2020 | 54.85% | 4.91% | 27.29% | 9.20% |
| 2021 | 53.52% | 6.29% | 26.45% | 9.51% |
Principle investigator wage gap by race
According to our data, white principle investigators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino principle investigators have the lowest average salary at $72,623.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $75,092 |
| White | $77,477 |
| Black or African American | $75,547 |
| Asian | $76,974 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $72,623 |
Average principle investigator age
See how the average age of principle investigators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Principle investigator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 40 | 34 |
| White | 39 | 39 |
| Black or African American | 38.5 | 40 |
| Asian | 40 | 38 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37 | 36 |
Principle investigator age breakdown
The average age of principle investigators is 40+ years years old, representing 47% of the principle investigator population.
Principle investigator age breakdown
| Principle Investigator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 47% |
| 30-40 years | 39% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Principle investigator educational attainment
The most common degree for principle investigators is bachelor's degree, with 59% of principle investigators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 19% and master's degree degree at 16%.
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Master's, 19%
- Doctorate, 16%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Principle investigators by degree level
| Principle investigator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 59% |
| Master's | 19% |
| Doctorate | 16% |
| Associate | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Principle investigator jobs you might like
Principle investigator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, principle investigators with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $80,507 annually. With a Master's degree, principle investigators earn a median annual income of $74,851 compared to $72,686 for principle investigators with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $74,851 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $72,686 |
| Doctorate Degree | $80,507 |
Principle investigator employment statistics
Most principle investigators work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where principle investigators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where principle investigators work.
Principle investigator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 33% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Principle investigator jobs by company type
Employees with the principle investigator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most principle investigators prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Principle investigator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 50% |
| Public | 14% |
| Private | 28% |
| Government | 8% |
Principle investigator jobs by industry
The most common industries for principle investigators are education, health care and technology.
Principle investigator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 40% |
| Health Care | 9% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Government | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Principle investigator turnover and employment statistics
Principle investigator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for principle investigators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Principle investigator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Principle investigator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.36% |
| 2011 | 2.60% |
| 2012 | 3.20% |
| 2013 | 2.82% |
| 2014 | 2.34% |
| 2015 | 2.18% |
| 2016 | 2.71% |
| 2017 | 2.30% |
| 2018 | 2.40% |
| 2019 | 1.58% |
| 2020 | 2.14% |
| 2021 | 1.42% |
Average principle investigator tenure
The average principle investigator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 779 principle investigators resumes in Zippia's database.
Principle investigator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 27% |
| 1-2 years | 38% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Principle investigator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of principle 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Forester | 8.40% | 6,758 |
| Principle Investigator | 8.45% | - |
| Population Geneticist | 9.74% | 92 |
| Molecular Research Technologist | 19.06% | 94,466 |
Similar principle investigator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Forester | 8.40% | 6,758 |
| Population Geneticist | 9.74% | 92 |
| Molecular Research Technologist | 19.06% | 94,466 |
Foreign languages spoken by principle investigators
The most common foreign language among principle investigators is Spanish at 36.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is German at 8.0% and Mandarin is the third-most popular at 8.0%.
- Spanish, 36.0%
- German, 8.0%
- Mandarin, 8.0%
- Arabic, 8.0%
- Portuguese, 4.0%
- Other, 36.0%
Principle investigator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 36.0% |
| German | 8.0% |
| Mandarin | 8.0% |
| Arabic | 8.0% |
| Portuguese | 4.0% |
| Other | 36.0% |
