Senior leader demographics and statistics in the US
Senior leader demographics research summary. Zippia estimates senior leader demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our senior leader 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 leaders after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 238,037 senior leaders currently employed in the United States.
- 28.8% of all senior leaders are women, while 71.2% are men.
- The average senior leader age is 42 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of senior leaders is White (59.0%), followed by Asian (14.6%), Hispanic or Latino (11.0%) and Black or African American (10.2%).
- Senior leaders are most in-demand in Charlotte, NC.
- The finance industry is the highest-paying for senior leaders.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $136,131, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women senior leaders earned 92% of what men earned.
- 8% of all senior leaders are LGBT.
- Washington is the best state for senior leaders to live.
- Senior leaders are 57% more likely to work at public companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Senior leader demographics by:
Senior leader gender statistics
28.8% of senior leaders are women and 71.2% of senior leaders are men.
- Male, 71.2%
- Female, 28.8%
Senior leader gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 71.2% |
| Female | 28.8% |
Senior leader gender pay gap
Women earn 92¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$116,543
Female income
$107,752
Senior leader gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in senior leader positions over time. Currently, 28.8% of senior leaders are female.
Senior leader gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.65% | 26.35% |
| 2011 | 71.61% | 28.39% |
| 2012 | 72.75% | 27.25% |
| 2013 | 71.72% | 28.28% |
| 2014 | 71.97% | 28.03% |
| 2015 | 70.79% | 29.21% |
| 2016 | 69.96% | 30.04% |
| 2017 | 71.26% | 28.74% |
| 2018 | 68.71% | 31.29% |
| 2019 | 70.18% | 29.82% |
| 2020 | 70.90% | 29.10% |
| 2021 | 71.20% | 28.80% |
Senior leader related jobs gender ratio
We compared senior leaders with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dell certified systems expert and software applications architect have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Informatics Nurse Specialist | 13% | 87% |
| Clinical Support Specialist | 22% | 78% |
| Clinic Administrator | 23% | 77% |
| Senior Leader | 71% | 29% |
| Senior Data Center Engineer | 98% | 2% |
| Software Applications Architect | 98% | 2% |
| Dell Certified Systems Expert | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Senior leader demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among senior leaders is White, which makes up 59.0% of all senior leaders. Comparatively, 14.6% of senior leaders are Asian and 11.0% of senior leaders are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 59.0%
- Asian, 14.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 11.0%
- Black or African American, 10.2%
- Unknown, 5.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
Senior leader race
| Senior leader race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 59.0% |
| Asian | 14.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.0% |
| Black or African American | 10.2% |
| Unknown | 5.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.2% |
Senior leader race and ethnicity over time
See how senior leader racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Senior leader race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 64.75% | 10.35% | 14.73% | 8.01% |
| 2011 | 65.55% | 10.77% | 13.20% | 8.25% |
| 2012 | 64.75% | 10.40% | 14.63% | 7.90% |
| 2013 | 64.13% | 9.70% | 15.28% | 8.45% |
| 2014 | 62.83% | 10.57% | 15.30% | 9.24% |
| 2015 | 62.71% | 9.95% | 15.74% | 9.07% |
| 2016 | 62.10% | 10.56% | 15.59% | 9.39% |
| 2017 | 61.79% | 10.49% | 15.40% | 9.50% |
| 2018 | 62.66% | 9.83% | 14.99% | 9.50% |
| 2019 | 62.82% | 10.37% | 14.01% | 10.06% |
| 2020 | 59.12% | 10.15% | 14.66% | 11.35% |
| 2021 | 58.98% | 10.23% | 14.58% | 11.00% |
Senior leader wage gap by race
According to our data, asian senior leaders have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american senior leaders have the lowest average salary at $109,986.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $117,303 |
| White | $117,027 |
| Black or African American | $109,986 |
| Asian | $125,755 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $113,232 |
Average senior leader age
See how the average age of senior leaders varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Senior leader age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 40 | 44 |
| White | 42 | 45 |
| Black or African American | 45.5 | 44 |
| Asian | 40 | 40 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 38 | 40 |
Senior leader age breakdown
The average age of senior leaders is 40+ years years old, representing 57% of the senior leader population.
Senior leader age breakdown
| Senior Leader Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 57% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 13% |
Senior leader educational attainment
The most common degree for senior leaders is bachelor's degree, with 60% of senior leaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 15% and master's degree degree at 13%.
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Senior leaders by degree level
| Senior leader degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 60% |
| Master's | 15% |
| Associate | 13% |
| High School Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Senior leader jobs you might like
Senior leader wage gap by degree level
According to the data, senior leaders with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $130,848 annually. With a Doctorate degree, senior leaders earn a median annual income of $129,636 compared to $117,291 for senior leaders with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $130,848 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $117,291 |
| Doctorate Degree | $129,636 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $101,301 |
Senior leader employment statistics
Most senior leaders work for a public in the technology industry.
Company size where senior leaders work
Below, you can see the size of companies where senior leaders work.
Senior leader jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 2% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 5% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 9% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 54% |
Senior leader jobs by company type
Employees with the senior leader job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most senior leaders prefer to work at public companies over private companies.
Senior leader jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 57% |
| Private | 39% |
| Government | 2% |
Senior leader jobs by industry
The most common industries for senior leaders are technology, finance and professional.
Senior leader industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 25% |
| Technology | 21% |
| Finance | 8% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Telecommunication | 4% |
| Energy | 4% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Media | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
Senior leader turnover and employment statistics
Senior leader unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for senior leaders between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Senior leader unemployment rate by year
| Year | Senior leader unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.21% |
| 2011 | 4.30% |
| 2012 | 3.58% |
| 2013 | 3.42% |
| 2014 | 2.80% |
| 2015 | 2.73% |
| 2016 | 2.43% |
| 2017 | 2.42% |
| 2018 | 2.29% |
| 2019 | 2.21% |
| 2020 | 3.97% |
| 2021 | 2.41% |
Average senior leader tenure
The average senior leader stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 11,270 senior leaders resumes in Zippia's database.
Senior leader tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 16% |
| 1-2 years | 31% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 12% |
Senior leader LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of senior leaders 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Network Planner | 7.31% | 36,482 |
| Senior Leader | 8.42% | - |
| Oracle Senior Developer | 8.46% | 153,052 |
| Senior Information Security Engineer | 8.59% | 119,962 |
| Senior Network Consulting Engineer | 9.03% | 68,990 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | 10.54% | 124,916 |
| Senior Help Desk Analyst | 10.88% | 56,069 |
Similar senior leader jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Network Planner | 7.31% | 36,482 |
| Oracle Senior Developer | 8.46% | 153,052 |
| Senior Information Security Engineer | 8.59% | 119,962 |
| Senior Network Consulting Engineer | 9.03% | 68,990 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | 10.54% | 124,916 |
| Senior Help Desk Analyst | 10.88% | 56,069 |
Foreign languages spoken by senior leaders
The most common foreign language among senior leaders is Spanish at 49.1%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.1% and German is the third-most popular at 6.3%.
- Spanish, 49.1%
- French, 7.1%
- German, 6.3%
- Portuguese, 4.8%
- Italian, 4.8%
- Other, 27.9%
Senior leader languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 49.1% |
| French | 7.1% |
| German | 6.3% |
| Portuguese | 4.8% |
| Italian | 4.8% |
| Other | 27.9% |
