Tower climber demographics and statistics in the US
Tower climber demographics research summary. Zippia estimates tower climber demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our tower climber estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about tower climbers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 12,181 tower climbers currently employed in the United States.
- 4.3% of all tower climbers are women, while 95.7% are men.
- The average tower climber age is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of tower climbers is White (57.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.1%), Black or African American (12.2%) and Asian (6.6%).
- Tower climbers are most in-demand in Auburn, WA.
- Sacramento, CA pays an annual average wage of $53,283, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women tower climbers earned 95% of what men earned.
- Alaska is the best state for tower climbers to live.
- Tower climbers are 82% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Tower climber demographics by:
Tower climber gender statistics
4.3% of tower climbers are women and 95.7% of tower climbers are men.
- Male, 95.7%
- Female, 4.3%
Tower climber gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 95.7% |
| Female | 4.3% |
Tower climber gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$42,255
Female income
$40,292
Tower climber gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in tower climber positions over time. Currently, 4.3% of tower climbers are female.
Tower climber gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 93.69% | 6.31% |
| 2011 | 94.54% | 5.46% |
| 2012 | 94.72% | 5.28% |
| 2013 | 95.15% | 4.85% |
| 2014 | 94.79% | 5.21% |
| 2015 | 95.70% | 4.30% |
| 2016 | 95.42% | 4.58% |
| 2017 | 95.36% | 4.64% |
| 2018 | 95.25% | 4.75% |
| 2019 | 96.22% | 3.78% |
| 2020 | 96.31% | 3.69% |
| 2021 | 95.68% | 4.32% |
Tower climber related jobs gender ratio
We compared tower climbers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, cable television technician and electric motor mechanic have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Facility Examiner | 27% | 73% |
| Tower Climber | 96% | 4% |
| Radio Repairman | 98% | 2% |
| Electric Motor Mechanic | 99% | 1% |
| Cable Television Technician | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Tower climber demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among tower climbers is White, which makes up 57.7% of all tower climbers. Comparatively, 18.1% of tower climbers are Hispanic or Latino and 12.2% of tower climbers are Black or African American.
- White, 57.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.1%
- Black or African American, 12.2%
- Asian, 6.6%
- Unknown, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Tower climber race
| Tower climber race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 57.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.1% |
| Black or African American | 12.2% |
| Asian | 6.6% |
| Unknown | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Tower climber race and ethnicity over time
See how tower climber racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Tower climber race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.15% | 11.34% | 4.43% | 15.92% |
| 2011 | 67.07% | 10.74% | 4.23% | 14.97% |
| 2012 | 65.43% | 11.12% | 4.54% | 15.87% |
| 2013 | 64.98% | 11.82% | 5.29% | 14.74% |
| 2014 | 65.43% | 11.68% | 4.56% | 15.27% |
| 2015 | 63.61% | 11.01% | 5.30% | 17.26% |
| 2016 | 63.30% | 11.18% | 5.31% | 17.69% |
| 2017 | 62.64% | 11.83% | 6.05% | 16.98% |
| 2018 | 62.02% | 10.17% | 5.06% | 19.60% |
| 2019 | 62.65% | 10.20% | 5.11% | 18.59% |
| 2020 | 60.52% | 11.19% | 4.64% | 18.79% |
| 2021 | 57.68% | 12.17% | 6.57% | 18.07% |
Tower climber wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown tower climbers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian tower climbers have the lowest average salary at $39,738.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $44,199 |
| White | $43,312 |
| Black or African American | $41,160 |
| Asian | $39,738 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $43,022 |
Average tower climber age
See how the average age of tower climbers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Tower climber age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 40 | |
| White | 47 | 48 |
| Black or African American | 45.5 | 50 |
| Asian | 48 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42.5 | 44 |
Tower climber age breakdown
The average age of tower climbers is 40+ years years old, representing 67% of the tower climber population.
Tower climber age breakdown
| Tower Climber Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 67% |
| 30-40 years | 20% |
| 20-30 years | 13% |
Tower climber educational attainment
The most common degree for tower climbers is high school diploma, with 49% of tower climbers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are diploma degree at 17% and diploma degree at 15%.
- High School Diploma, 49%
- Diploma, 17%
- Associate, 15%
- Bachelor's, 10%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Tower climbers by degree level
| Tower climber degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 49% |
| Diploma | 17% |
| Associate | 15% |
| Bachelor's | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
Tower climber jobs you might like
Tower climber wage gap by degree level
According to the data, tower climbers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $43,622 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, tower climbers earn a median annual income of $43,335 compared to $40,002 for tower climbers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $40,002 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,335 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,622 |
Tower climber employment statistics
Most tower climbers work for a private in the telecommunication industry.
Company size where tower climbers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where tower climbers work.
Tower climber jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 11% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 21% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 32% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 7% |
Tower climber jobs by company type
Employees with the tower climber job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most tower climbers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Tower climber jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 15% |
| Private | 82% |
| Government | 2% |
Tower climber jobs by industry
The most common industries for tower climbers are telecommunication, construction and professional.
Tower climber industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Telecommunication | 18% |
| Construction | 12% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Technology | 11% |
| Finance | 5% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
Tower climber turnover and employment statistics
Tower climber unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for tower climbers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tower climber unemployment rate by year
| Year | Tower climber unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.46% |
| 2011 | 6.44% |
| 2012 | 6.31% |
| 2013 | 4.97% |
| 2014 | 4.71% |
| 2015 | 3.35% |
| 2016 | 5.60% |
| 2017 | 3.36% |
| 2018 | 2.03% |
| 2019 | 2.89% |
| 2020 | 3.52% |
| 2021 | 4.66% |
Average tower climber tenure
The average tower climber stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 992 tower climbers resumes in Zippia's database.
Tower climber tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 43% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 10% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 1% |
Tower climber LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of tower climbers 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Substation Wireman | 3.37% | 359 |
| Burglar Alarm Installer | 4.35% | 15,933 |
| Tape Recorder Repairer | 4.78% | 3,607 |
| Tower Climber | 6.00% | - |
| Computer Equipment Installer | 6.67% | 43,552 |
| Electrical Parts Reconditioner | 7.96% | 48,521 |
Similar tower climber jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Substation Wireman | 3.37% | 359 |
| Burglar Alarm Installer | 4.35% | 15,933 |
| Tape Recorder Repairer | 4.78% | 3,607 |
| Computer Equipment Installer | 6.67% | 43,552 |
| Electrical Parts Reconditioner | 7.96% | 48,521 |
Foreign languages spoken by tower climbers
The most common foreign language among tower climbers is Spanish at 62.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Portuguese at 6.3% and Hungarian is the third-most popular at 6.3%.
- Spanish, 62.5%
- Portuguese, 6.3%
- Hungarian, 6.3%
- Romanian, 6.3%
- French, 6.3%
- Other, 12.3%
Tower climber languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 62.5% |
| Portuguese | 6.3% |
| Hungarian | 6.3% |
| Romanian | 6.3% |
| French | 6.3% |
| Other | 12.3% |
