Senior executive demographics and statistics in the US
Senior executive demographics research summary. Zippia estimates senior executive demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our senior executive estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about senior executives after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,232 senior executives currently employed in the United States.
- 42.6% of all senior executives are women, while 57.4% are men.
- The average senior executive age is 49 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of senior executives is White (71.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (11.2%), Black or African American (7.6%) and Asian (5.0%).
- Senior executives are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- Hartford, CT pays an annual average wage of $132,915, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women senior executives earned 103% of what men earned.
- Connecticut is the best state for senior executives to live.
- Senior executives are 46% more likely to work at public companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Senior executive demographics by:
Senior executive gender statistics
42.6% of senior executives are women and 57.4% of senior executives are men.
- Male, 57.4%
- Female, 42.6%
Senior executive gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 57.4% |
| Female | 42.6% |
Senior executive gender pay gap
Women earn $1.03 for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$104,336
Female income
$107,264
Senior executive gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in senior executive positions over time. Currently, 42.6% of senior executives are female.
Senior executive gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 53.43% | 46.57% |
| 2011 | 52.34% | 47.66% |
| 2012 | 54.86% | 45.14% |
| 2013 | 54.36% | 45.64% |
| 2014 | 55.54% | 44.46% |
| 2015 | 58.03% | 41.97% |
| 2016 | 57.75% | 42.25% |
| 2017 | 60.13% | 39.87% |
| 2018 | 61.88% | 38.12% |
| 2019 | 53.44% | 46.56% |
| 2020 | 62.21% | 37.79% |
| 2021 | 57.44% | 42.56% |
Senior executive related jobs gender ratio
We compared senior executives with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, administrative assistant engineering and assistant operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Escrow Secretary | 3% | 97% |
| Placement Secretary | 3% | 97% |
| Administrative Assistant/Secretary/Receptionist | 4% | 96% |
| Senior Executive | 57% | 43% |
| Information Technology Assistant | 67% | 33% |
| Assistant Operator | 77% | 23% |
| Administrative Assistant Engineering | 78% | 22% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Senior executive demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among senior executives is White, which makes up 71.0% of all senior executives. Comparatively, 11.2% of senior executives are Hispanic or Latino and 7.6% of senior executives are Black or African American.
- White, 71.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 11.2%
- Black or African American, 7.6%
- Asian, 5.0%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Senior executive race
| Senior executive race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 71.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.2% |
| Black or African American | 7.6% |
| Asian | 5.0% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Senior executive race and ethnicity over time
See how senior executive racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Senior executive race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 79.50% | 7.11% | 2.71% | 8.70% |
| 2011 | 79.31% | 7.38% | 2.60% | 8.67% |
| 2012 | 79.00% | 7.38% | 2.68% | 8.76% |
| 2013 | 79.06% | 7.00% | 2.88% | 8.94% |
| 2014 | 78.72% | 7.12% | 2.85% | 9.25% |
| 2015 | 78.19% | 7.12% | 2.86% | 9.72% |
| 2016 | 77.49% | 6.99% | 3.21% | 10.05% |
| 2017 | 77.56% | 6.73% | 2.97% | 10.46% |
| 2018 | 75.18% | 7.54% | 4.55% | 9.66% |
| 2019 | 75.53% | 7.13% | 4.62% | 10.36% |
| 2020 | 71.97% | 7.39% | 4.40% | 11.45% |
| 2021 | 70.97% | 7.62% | 5.00% | 11.22% |
Senior executive wage gap by race
According to our data, asian senior executives have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White senior executives have the lowest average salary at $100,678.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $104,383 |
| White | $100,678 |
| Black or African American | $101,002 |
| Asian | $112,620 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $103,431 |
Average senior executive age
See how the average age of senior executives varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Senior executive age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 43 | |
| White | 43 | 52 |
| Black or African American | 51 | |
| Asian | 43 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 46.5 | 48.5 |
Senior executive age breakdown
The average age of senior executives is 40+ years years old, representing 76% of the senior executive population.
Senior executive age breakdown
| Senior Executive Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 76% |
| 30-40 years | 20% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Senior executive educational attainment
The most common degree for senior executives is bachelor's degree, with 62% of senior executives earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 7%.
- Bachelor's, 62%
- Master's, 22%
- Associate, 7%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Senior executives by degree level
| Senior executive degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 62% |
| Master's | 22% |
| Associate | 7% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Senior executive jobs you might like
Senior executive wage gap by degree level
According to the data, senior executives with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $110,879 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, senior executives earn a median annual income of $110,417 compared to $101,888 for senior executives with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $110,879 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $99,650 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $110,417 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $101,888 |
Senior executive employment statistics
Most senior executives work for a public in the technology industry.
Company size where senior executives work
Below, you can see the size of companies where senior executives work.
Senior executive jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 11% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 10% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 45% |
Senior executive jobs by company type
Employees with the senior executive job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most senior executives prefer to work at public companies over private companies.
Senior executive jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 46% |
| Private | 45% |
| Government | 4% |
Senior executive jobs by industry
The most common industries for senior executives are technology, finance and professional.
Senior executive industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 17% |
| Technology | 17% |
| Finance | 8% |
| Professional | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Pharmaceutical | 5% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Telecommunication | 5% |
| Government | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Senior executive turnover and employment statistics
Senior executive unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for senior executives between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Senior executive unemployment rate by year
| Year | Senior executive unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.58% |
| 2011 | 7.01% |
| 2012 | 5.80% |
| 2013 | 5.28% |
| 2014 | 4.11% |
| 2015 | 3.32% |
| 2016 | 2.98% |
| 2017 | 2.93% |
| 2018 | 2.48% |
| 2019 | 2.19% |
| 2020 | 3.60% |
| 2021 | 5.15% |
Average senior executive tenure
The average senior executive stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 6,611 senior executives resumes in Zippia's database.
Senior executive tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 13% |
| 1-2 years | 39% |
| 3-4 years | 18% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Senior executive LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of senior executives 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administrative Assistant | 5.70% | 101,678 |
| Physician Office Specialist | 9.17% | 140,976 |
| Senior Executive | 10.06% | - |
| District Court Administrator | 14.76% | 58,617 |
Similar senior executive jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administrative Assistant | 5.70% | 101,678 |
| Physician Office Specialist | 9.17% | 140,976 |
| District Court Administrator | 14.76% | 58,617 |
Foreign languages spoken by senior executives
The most common foreign language among senior executives is Spanish at 33.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.5% and Hindi is the third-most popular at 11.4%.
- Spanish, 33.2%
- French, 13.5%
- Hindi, 11.4%
- German, 6.6%
- Portuguese, 3.9%
- Other, 31.4%
Senior executive languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 33.2% |
| French | 13.5% |
| Hindi | 11.4% |
| German | 6.6% |
| Portuguese | 3.9% |
| Other | 31.4% |
