Tower operator demographics and statistics in the US
Tower operator demographics research summary. Zippia estimates tower operator demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our tower operator 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 operators after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 12,250 tower operators currently employed in the United States.
- 11.4% of all tower operators are women, while 88.6% are men.
- The average tower operator age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of tower operators is White (65.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.8%), Black or African American (9.1%) and Unknown (3.6%).
- Tower operators are most in-demand in Campbell, CA.
- Redwood City, CA pays an annual average wage of $51,936, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women tower operators earned 90% of what men earned.
- North Dakota is the best state for tower operators to live.
- Tower operators are 71% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Tower operator demographics by:
Tower operator gender statistics
11.4% of tower operators are women and 88.6% of tower operators are men.
- Male, 88.6%
- Female, 11.4%
Tower operator gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 88.6% |
| Female | 11.4% |
Tower operator gender pay gap
Women earn 90¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$39,802
Female income
$35,910
Tower operator gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in tower operator positions over time. Currently, 11.4% of tower operators are female.
Tower operator gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 95.78% | 4.22% |
| 2011 | 88.58% | 11.42% |
| 2012 | 87.65% | 12.35% |
| 2013 | 87.41% | 12.59% |
| 2014 | 82.31% | 17.69% |
| 2015 | 83.41% | 16.59% |
| 2016 | 88.79% | 11.21% |
| 2017 | 87.72% | 12.28% |
| 2018 | 76.61% | 23.39% |
| 2019 | 85.39% | 14.61% |
| 2020 | 87.97% | 12.03% |
| 2021 | 88.57% | 11.43% |
Tower operator related jobs gender ratio
We compared tower operators with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, dredge operator and tower crane operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Gift Wrapper | 12% | 88% |
| Gift Packer | 18% | 82% |
| Pill Packer | 19% | 81% |
| Tower Operator | 89% | 11% |
| Green Chain Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Tower Crane Operator | 99% | 1% |
| Dredge Operator | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Tower operator demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among tower operators is White, which makes up 65.4% of all tower operators. Comparatively, 19.8% of tower operators are Hispanic or Latino and 9.1% of tower operators are Black or African American.
- White, 65.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 19.8%
- Black or African American, 9.1%
- Unknown, 3.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
- Asian, 0.7%
Tower operator race
| Tower operator race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19.8% |
| Black or African American | 9.1% |
| Unknown | 3.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.4% |
| Asian | 0.7% |
Tower operator race and ethnicity over time
See how tower operator racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Tower operator race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.94% | 15.93% | 0.51% | 13.50% |
| 2011 | 68.79% | 12.34% | 0.84% | 16.79% |
| 2012 | 68.08% | 11.74% | 0.94% | 16.29% |
| 2013 | 70.70% | 13.19% | 1.26% | 12.44% |
| 2014 | 69.35% | 9.83% | 0.77% | 17.97% |
| 2015 | 68.27% | 14.06% | 0.71% | 14.67% |
| 2016 | 68.92% | 12.13% | 0.30% | 16.33% |
| 2017 | 69.57% | 12.36% | 0.58% | 15.59% |
| 2018 | 69.44% | 11.27% | 0.56% | 15.18% |
| 2019 | 69.19% | 10.48% | 2.06% | 15.89% |
| 2020 | 65.00% | 11.54% | 1.22% | 17.05% |
| 2021 | 65.36% | 9.06% | 0.68% | 19.81% |
Tower operator wage gap by race
According to our data, white tower operators have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american tower operators have the lowest average salary at $38,627.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $40,194 |
| White | $41,004 |
| Black or African American | $38,627 |
| Asian | $39,787 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $39,439 |
Average tower operator age
See how the average age of tower operators varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Tower operator age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 45 | |
| White | 49 | |
| Black or African American | 48.5 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 50 |
Tower operator age breakdown
The average age of tower operators is 40+ years years old, representing 73% of the tower operator population.
Tower operator age breakdown
| Tower Operator Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 73% |
| 30-40 years | 23% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Tower operator educational attainment
The most common degree for tower operators is high school diploma, with 49% of tower operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 17% and bachelor's degree degree at 14%.
- High School Diploma, 49%
- Bachelor's, 17%
- Associate, 14%
- Diploma, 13%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Tower operators by degree level
| Tower operator degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 49% |
| Bachelor's | 17% |
| Associate | 14% |
| Diploma | 13% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Tower operator jobs you might like
Tower operator wage gap by degree level
According to the data, tower operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $40,879 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, tower operators earn a median annual income of $40,236 compared to $39,538 for tower operators with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $39,538 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,236 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,879 |
Tower operator employment statistics
Most tower operators work for a private in the manufacturing industry.
Company size where tower operators work
Below, you can see the size of companies where tower operators work.
Tower operator jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 28% |
Tower operator jobs by company type
Employees with the tower operator job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most tower operators prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Tower operator jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 3% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 71% |
| Government | 3% |
Tower operator jobs by industry
The most common industries for tower operators are manufacturing, retail and transportation.
Tower operator industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20% |
| Retail | 12% |
| Fortune 500 | 12% |
| Transportation | 9% |
| Hospitality | 8% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Construction | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Automotive | 4% |
| Government | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Agriculture | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Tower operator turnover and employment statistics
Tower operator unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for tower operators between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tower operator unemployment rate by year
| Year | Tower operator unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 13.28% |
| 2011 | 9.36% |
| 2012 | 8.67% |
| 2013 | 6.09% |
| 2014 | 5.14% |
| 2015 | 3.73% |
| 2016 | 5.73% |
| 2017 | 4.62% |
| 2018 | 4.30% |
| 2019 | 3.10% |
| 2020 | 5.99% |
| 2021 | 6.25% |
Average tower operator tenure
The average tower operator stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,220 tower operators resumes in Zippia's database.
Tower operator tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 25% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Tower operator LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of tower operators 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tower Operator | 1.94% | - |
| Stacker Operator | 3.85% | 58,796 |
| Recyclable Materials Collector | 4.13% | 6,962 |
| Car Sweeper | 4.59% | 6,116 |
| Floor Helper | 4.67% | 29,622 |
| Case Packer | 6.68% | 37,605 |
| Shingle Catcher | 10.43% | 69 |
Similar tower operator jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Stacker Operator | 3.85% | 58,796 |
| Recyclable Materials Collector | 4.13% | 6,962 |
| Car Sweeper | 4.59% | 6,116 |
| Floor Helper | 4.67% | 29,622 |
| Case Packer | 6.68% | 37,605 |
| Shingle Catcher | 10.43% | 69 |
Foreign languages spoken by tower operators
The most common foreign language among tower operators is Spanish at 71.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Gujarati at 7.1% and Korean is the third-most popular at 7.1%.
- Spanish, 71.4%
- Gujarati, 7.1%
- Korean, 7.1%
- Hindi, 7.1%
- French, 7.1%
Tower operator languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 71.4% |
| Gujarati | 7.1% |
| Korean | 7.1% |
| Hindi | 7.1% |
| French | 7.1% |
