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Shift leader demographics and statistics in the US

Shift leader demographics research summary. Zippia estimates shift leader demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our shift 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 shift leaders after extensive research and analysis:

  • There are over 686,033 shift leaders currently employed in the United States.
  • 55.8% of all shift leaders are women, while 44.2% are men.
  • The average shift leader age is 36 years old.
  • The most common ethnicity of shift leaders is White (58.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.1%), Black or African American (10.4%) and Asian (6.5%).
  • Shift leaders are most in-demand in Houston, TX.
  • The manufacturing industry is the highest-paying for shift leaders.
  • Boston, MA pays an annual average wage of $40,980, the highest in the US.
  • In 2022, women shift leaders earned 96% of what men earned.
  • 10% of all shift leaders are LGBT.
  • Massachusetts is the best state for shift leaders to live.
  • Shift leaders are 67% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
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Shift leader demographics by:

Shift leader gender statistics

55.8% of shift leaders are women and 44.2% of shift leaders are men.
  • Female, 55.8%
  • Male, 44.2%

Shift leader gender ratio

GenderPercentages
Female55.8%
Male44.2%

Shift leader gender pay gap

Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men

male-income
Male income
$35,941
female-income
Female income
$34,386

Shift leader gender ratio over time

This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in shift leader positions over time. Currently, 55.8% of shift leaders are female.
Male
Female
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

Shift leader gender ratio by year

YearMaleFemale
201043.63%56.37%
201143.91%56.09%
201243.63%56.37%
201347.36%52.64%
201444.58%55.42%
201545.40%54.60%
201647.09%52.91%
201746.67%53.33%
201846.65%53.35%
201945.87%54.13%
202046.75%53.25%
202144.18%55.82%

Shift leader related jobs gender ratio

We compared shift leaders with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, corporate executive chef and chef de cuisine have the biggest gender ratio gaps.

Job titleMaleFemale
Lunchroom Monitor5%95%
Waiter/Waitress, Captain13%87%
Lunchroom Supervisor13%87%
Shift Leader44%56%
Executive Chef88%12%
Chef De Cuisine90%10%
Corporate Executive Chef91%9%

Shift leader demographics by race

The most common ethnicity among shift leaders is White, which makes up 58.8% of all shift leaders. Comparatively, 18.1% of shift leaders are Hispanic or Latino and 10.4% of shift leaders are Black or African American.
  • White, 58.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino, 18.1%
  • Black or African American, 10.4%
  • Asian, 6.5%
  • Unknown, 5.3%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%

Shift leader race

Shift leader racePercentages
White58.8%
Hispanic or Latino18.1%
Black or African American10.4%
Asian6.5%
Unknown5.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%

Shift leader race and ethnicity over time

See how shift leader racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.

Shift leader race and ethnicity by year

YearWhiteBlack or African AmericanAsianHispanic or Latino
201065.38%10.64%6.49%14.55%
201163.83%11.51%6.22%15.35%
201264.08%10.43%6.45%15.67%
201363.46%10.61%6.62%15.81%
201462.30%11.42%6.27%16.48%
201563.84%9.38%6.74%16.85%
201663.21%10.41%6.63%15.87%
201761.45%10.53%6.55%17.68%
201862.46%9.24%6.72%17.23%
201963.48%9.16%6.53%17.11%
202059.41%9.53%6.87%17.92%
202158.83%10.39%6.51%18.09%

Shift leader wage gap by race

According to our data, asian shift leaders have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american shift leaders have the lowest average salary at $35,116.
$38,000
$37,000
$36,000
$35,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
EthnicitySalary
Unknown$36,023
White$35,518
Black or African American$35,116
Asian$36,626
Hispanic or Latino$36,447

Average shift leader age

See how the average age of shift leaders varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female

Shift leader age by race and gender

RaceMale ageFemale age
Black or African American3440
Unknown2836
Asian3543
Hispanic or Latino3133
White3136
American Indian and Alaska Native33

Shift leader age breakdown

The average age of shift leaders is 40+ years years old, representing 39% of the shift leader population.

40+ years

30-40 years

20-30 years


Shift leader age breakdown

Shift Leader YearsPercentages
40+ years39%
30-40 years24%
20-30 years34%

Shift leader educational attainment

The most common degree for shift leaders is high school diploma, with 36% of shift leaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 31% and bachelor's degree degree at 21%.
  • High School Diploma, 36%
  • Bachelor's, 31%
  • Associate, 21%
  • Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

Shift leaders by degree level

Shift leader degreePercentages
High School Diploma36%
Bachelor's31%
Associate21%
Diploma7%
Other Degrees5%

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Shift leader wage gap by degree level

According to the data, shift leaders with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $37,079 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, shift leaders earn a median annual income of $36,944 compared to $34,491 for shift leaders with an High School Diploma degree.
$38,000
$37,000
$36,000
$35,000
$34,000
High School Diploma or Less
Bachelor's Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
EducationSalary
High School Diploma or Less$34,491
Bachelor's Degree$36,944
Some College/ Associate Degree$37,079

Shift leader employment statistics

Most shift leaders work for a private in the hospitality industry.

Company size where shift leaders work

Below, you can see the size of companies where shift leaders work.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

Shift leader jobs by employer size

Company sizePercentages
< 50 employees8%
50 - 100 employees7%
100 - 500 employees13%
500 - 1,000 employees6%
1,000 - 10,000 employees28%
> 10,000 employees38%

Shift leader jobs by company type

Employees with the shift leader job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most shift leaders prefer to work at private companies over public companies.

Education

Public

Private

Government

Shift leader jobs by sector

Company typePercentages
Education1%
Public32%
Private67%
Government1%

Shift leader jobs by industry

The most common industries for shift leaders are hospitality, retail and manufacturing.

Hospitality

Retail

Fortune 500

Manufacturing

Professional

Shift leader turnover and employment statistics

Shift leader unemployment rate over time

The unemployment rate for shift leaders between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Shift leader unemployment rate by year

YearShift leader unemployment rate
20108.32%
20118.45%
20127.13%
20137.04%
20145.72%
20154.46%
20164.74%
20174.34%
20184.18%
20193.78%
20207.32%
20217.89%

Average shift leader tenure

The average shift leader stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 124,111 shift leaders resumes in Zippia's database.

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-7 years

8-10 years

11+ years

Shift leader tenure statistics

Number of yearsPercentages
Less than 1 year22%
1-2 years40%
3-4 years16%
5-7 years14%
8-10 years4%
11+ years4%

Shift leader LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs

Review the percent of shift leaders that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
Job titleLGBTJob openings
Deli/Bakery Associate6.78%9,456
Cocktail Waitress7.02%77,429
Gallery Host7.29%9,545
Counter Attendant7.36%53,208
Banquet Bartender7.68%58,519
Pastry Chef7.85%18,844
Shift Leader10.00%-

Similar shift leader jobs LGBT demographics

ProfessionPercentages of LGBT Job openings
Deli/Bakery Associate6.78%9,456
Cocktail Waitress7.02%77,429
Gallery Host7.29%9,545
Counter Attendant7.36%53,208
Banquet Bartender7.68%58,519
Pastry Chef7.85%18,844

Foreign languages spoken by shift leaders

The most common foreign language among shift leaders is Spanish at 69.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 7.0% and German is the third-most popular at 3.2%.
  • Spanish, 69.3%
  • French, 7.0%
  • German, 3.2%
  • Portuguese, 2.2%
  • Mandarin, 1.7%
  • Other, 16.6%

Shift leader languages spoken

Foreign languagePercentages
Spanish69.3%
French7.0%
German3.2%
Portuguese2.2%
Mandarin1.7%
Other16.6%

Shift leader jobs

Shift leader location demographics

The amount you can make as a shift leader can depend on where you live. For example, the highest salary of shift leaders is $59,385. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located.

Where do shift leaders earn the most?

Shift leaders earn the most in Massachusetts, where the average shift leader salary is $40,935. The map here shows where shift leaders earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Average salary

Which city has the most Shift Leaders?

By looking through more than 124,111 resumes, we found that the most popular places for shift leaders are New York, NY and Houston, TX.
Number of Shift Leaders

Shift leader jobs by state

RankStateNumber of jobsAverage salary
1California7,722$38,115
2Texas6,998$28,851
3Florida5,768$28,171
4North Carolina4,065$28,428
5Illinois3,977$29,738
6Ohio3,897$28,839
7Georgia3,826$27,041
8Michigan3,651$32,272
9Pennsylvania3,563$34,381
10New York3,521$36,610
11Virginia3,502$31,969
12Massachusetts3,432$40,935
13Indiana3,124$29,364
14Missouri2,617$26,989
15Tennessee2,395$28,065
16Minnesota2,366$35,386
17Maryland2,356$31,159
18New Jersey2,207$37,922
19Wisconsin2,167$31,167
20Washington1,955$38,980
21Alabama1,908$24,866
22Kentucky1,819$27,376
23South Carolina1,736$25,973
24Arizona1,663$31,898
25Colorado1,513$33,701
26Louisiana1,442$27,242
27Iowa1,396$29,756
28Oregon1,228$34,473
29Kansas1,158$27,602
30Mississippi1,153$25,672
31Oklahoma1,072$27,507
32Utah1,053$26,576
33Arkansas1,008$24,936
34Connecticut971$38,934
35Nebraska704$28,971
36Nevada567$31,743
37West Virginia534$28,158
38New Mexico498$28,429
39New Hampshire488$34,657
40Maine447$34,471
41District of Columbia418$35,045
42Idaho410$29,954
43Delaware349$34,942
44Montana332$30,784
45Rhode Island302$39,457
46North Dakota298$33,619
47Alaska278$34,768
48Hawaii239$34,048
49Wyoming238$31,549
50Vermont232$35,490
51South Dakota202$30,874

Where are shift leaders in high demand?

Shift leaders are in high demand in Houston, TX. There are currently 155 job openings for shift leaders here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country shift leaders are in the most demand.
Jobs openings

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