Student athlete demographics and statistics in the US
Student athlete demographics research summary. Zippia estimates student athlete demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our student athlete estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about student athletes after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,610 student athletes currently employed in the United States.
- 41.9% of all student athletes are women, while 58.1% are men.
- The average student athlete age is 35 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of student athletes is White (66.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.1%), Black or African American (8.8%) and Unknown (5.7%).
- Student athletes are most in-demand in Albany, NY.
- The education industry is the highest-paying for student athletes.
- New York, NY pays an annual average wage of $69,120, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women student athletes earned 98% of what men earned.
- 8% of all student athletes are LGBT.
- New York is the best state for student athletes to live.
- Student athletes are 95% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Student athlete demographics by:
Student athlete gender statistics
41.9% of student athletes are women and 58.1% of student athletes are men.
- Male, 58.1%
- Female, 41.9%
Student athlete gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 58.1% |
| Female | 41.9% |
Student athlete gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$44,539
Female income
$43,461
Student athlete gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in student athlete positions over time. Currently, 41.9% of student athletes are female.
Student athlete gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.79% | 32.21% |
| 2011 | 65.41% | 34.59% |
| 2012 | 67.12% | 32.88% |
| 2013 | 64.24% | 35.76% |
| 2014 | 64.41% | 35.59% |
| 2015 | 64.95% | 35.05% |
| 2016 | 62.50% | 37.50% |
| 2017 | 63.20% | 36.80% |
| 2018 | 57.93% | 42.07% |
| 2019 | 55.38% | 44.62% |
| 2020 | 55.68% | 44.32% |
| 2021 | 58.06% | 41.94% |
Student athlete related jobs gender ratio
We compared student athletes with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, 19d cavalry scout and baseball player have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Harpist | 8% | 92% |
| Actress | 8% | 92% |
| Modern Dancer | 8% | 92% |
| Student Athlete | 58% | 42% |
| Assistant Varsity Football Coach | 98% | 2% |
| Baseball Player | 98% | 2% |
| 19D Cavalry Scout | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Student athlete demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among student athletes is White, which makes up 66.9% of all student athletes. Comparatively, 13.1% of student athletes are Hispanic or Latino and 8.8% of student athletes are Black or African American.
- White, 66.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.1%
- Black or African American, 8.8%
- Unknown, 5.7%
- Asian, 5.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
Student athlete race
| Student athlete race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.1% |
| Black or African American | 8.8% |
| Unknown | 5.7% |
| Asian | 5.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.1% |
Student athlete race and ethnicity over time
See how student athlete racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Student athlete race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.07% | 8.85% | 4.39% | 10.03% |
| 2011 | 73.05% | 9.37% | 4.51% | 9.97% |
| 2012 | 73.47% | 7.78% | 5.12% | 10.17% |
| 2013 | 70.84% | 8.73% | 4.56% | 11.78% |
| 2014 | 71.82% | 9.13% | 4.31% | 11.35% |
| 2015 | 72.69% | 8.01% | 4.68% | 11.77% |
| 2016 | 69.30% | 9.80% | 5.19% | 11.96% |
| 2017 | 70.44% | 9.06% | 4.56% | 11.74% |
| 2018 | 69.64% | 8.61% | 5.73% | 11.99% |
| 2019 | 67.70% | 9.25% | 5.94% | 13.58% |
| 2020 | 64.72% | 10.00% | 6.02% | 13.64% |
| 2021 | 66.87% | 8.75% | 5.40% | 13.05% |
Student athlete wage gap by race
According to our data, asian student athletes have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White student athletes have the lowest average salary at $43,783.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $44,855 |
| White | $43,783 |
| Black or African American | $44,294 |
| Asian | $45,748 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $44,042 |
Average student athlete age
See how the average age of student athletes varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Student athlete age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 31 | 35 |
| White | 34 | 34.5 |
| Black or African American | 34 | 37 |
| Asian | 31 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35 | 30 |
Student athlete age breakdown
The average age of student athletes is 40+ years years old, representing 33% of the student athlete population.
Student athlete age breakdown
| Student Athlete Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 33% |
| 30-40 years | 33% |
| 20-30 years | 27% |
Student athlete educational attainment
The most common degree for student athletes is bachelor's degree, with 84% of student athletes earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 6% and master's degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 84%
- Master's, 6%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 1%
Student athletes by degree level
| Student athlete degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 84% |
| Master's | 6% |
| Associate | 5% |
| High School Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 1% |
Student athlete jobs you might like
Student athlete wage gap by degree level
According to the data, student athletes with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $50,412 annually. With a Master's degree, student athletes earn a median annual income of $50,087 compared to $43,893 for student athletes with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,087 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,552 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $50,412 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,893 |
Student athlete employment statistics
Most student athletes work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where student athletes work
Below, you can see the size of companies where student athletes work.
Student athlete jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 5% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 15% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 16% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 54% |
| > 10,000 employees | 7% |
Student athlete jobs by company type
Employees with the student athlete job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most student athletes prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Student athlete jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 95% |
| Public | 0% |
| Private | 4% |
| Government | 0% |
Student athlete jobs by industry
The most common industries for student athletes are education, manufacturing and non profits.
Student athlete industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 90% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Professional | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
Student athlete turnover and employment statistics
Student athlete unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for student athletes between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Student athlete unemployment rate by year
| Year | Student athlete unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.64% |
| 2011 | 10.09% |
| 2012 | 9.54% |
| 2013 | 7.83% |
| 2014 | 6.50% |
| 2015 | 6.51% |
| 2016 | 6.01% |
| 2017 | 6.48% |
| 2018 | 4.49% |
| 2019 | 3.86% |
| 2020 | 8.79% |
| 2021 | 6.62% |
Average student athlete tenure
The average student athlete stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 10,465 student athletes resumes in Zippia's database.
Student athlete tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 12% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 34% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 3% |
Student athlete LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of student athletes 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Umpire | 5.42% | 130 |
| Athlete | 6.54% | 7,350 |
| Student Athlete | 7.62% | - |
| Choir Member | 8.54% | 4,445 |
| Clairvoyant | 13.74% | 6 |
| Research/Program Director | 14.31% | 110,090 |
| Handbell Choir Director | 30.45% | 4,495 |
Similar student athlete jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Umpire | 5.42% | 130 |
| Athlete | 6.54% | 7,350 |
| Choir Member | 8.54% | 4,445 |
| Clairvoyant | 13.74% | 6 |
| Research/Program Director | 14.31% | 110,090 |
| Handbell Choir Director | 30.45% | 4,495 |
Foreign languages spoken by student athletes
The most common foreign language among student athletes is Spanish at 56.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 12.7% and German is the third-most popular at 4.6%.
- Spanish, 56.6%
- French, 12.7%
- German, 4.6%
- Italian, 3.8%
- Portuguese, 3.6%
- Other, 18.7%
Student athlete languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 56.6% |
| French | 12.7% |
| German | 4.6% |
| Italian | 3.8% |
| Portuguese | 3.6% |
| Other | 18.7% |
