Tradesman demographics and statistics in the US
Tradesman demographics research summary. Zippia estimates tradesman demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our tradesman estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about tradesmen after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 4,427 tradesmen currently employed in the United States.
- 4.0% of all tradesmen are women, while 96.0% are men.
- The average tradesman age is 45 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of tradesmen is White (65.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.9%), Black or African American (5.8%) and Unknown (3.9%).
- Tradesmen are most in-demand in Little Rock, AR.
- Beverly Hills, CA pays an annual average wage of $52,145, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women tradesmen earned 90% of what men earned.
- California is the best state for tradesmen to live.
- Tradesmen are 72% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Tradesman demographics by:
Tradesman gender statistics
4.0% of tradesmen are women and 96.0% of tradesmen are men.
- Male, 96.0%
- Female, 4.0%
Tradesman gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 96.0% |
| Female | 4.0% |
Tradesman gender pay gap
Women earn 90¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$38,668
Female income
$34,931
Tradesman gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in tradesman positions over time. Currently, 4.0% of tradesmen are female.
Tradesman gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 97.28% | 2.72% |
| 2011 | 97.37% | 2.63% |
| 2012 | 97.26% | 2.74% |
| 2013 | 97.40% | 2.60% |
| 2014 | 97.71% | 2.29% |
| 2015 | 96.79% | 3.21% |
| 2016 | 97.17% | 2.83% |
| 2017 | 96.56% | 3.44% |
| 2018 | 96.15% | 3.85% |
| 2019 | 97.41% | 2.59% |
| 2020 | 96.62% | 3.38% |
| 2021 | 96.00% | 4.00% |
Tradesman related jobs gender ratio
We compared tradesmen with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, mason foreman/superintendant and fence installer foreman have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| House Supervisor | 32% | 68% |
| Sign Builder Supervisor | 34% | 66% |
| Tradesman | 96% | 4% |
| Concreting Supervisor | 99% | 1% |
| Fence Installer Foreman | 99% | 1% |
| Mason Foreman/Superintendant | 100% | 0% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Tradesman demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among tradesmen is White, which makes up 65.9% of all tradesmen. Comparatively, 21.9% of tradesmen are Hispanic or Latino and 5.8% of tradesmen are Black or African American.
- White, 65.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 21.9%
- Black or African American, 5.8%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- Asian, 1.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Tradesman race
| Tradesman race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.9% |
| Black or African American | 5.8% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| Asian | 1.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Tradesman race and ethnicity over time
See how tradesman racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Tradesman race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76.45% | 5.56% | 1.21% | 14.57% |
| 2011 | 75.23% | 6.52% | 1.17% | 14.58% |
| 2012 | 75.88% | 5.88% | 1.37% | 14.40% |
| 2013 | 75.72% | 5.45% | 1.13% | 15.17% |
| 2014 | 74.30% | 5.82% | 1.15% | 16.16% |
| 2015 | 74.67% | 5.82% | 1.30% | 15.71% |
| 2016 | 73.56% | 5.92% | 1.22% | 16.96% |
| 2017 | 72.20% | 6.27% | 1.07% | 17.82% |
| 2018 | 72.02% | 5.43% | 1.29% | 18.95% |
| 2019 | 70.36% | 5.85% | 1.37% | 19.69% |
| 2020 | 68.73% | 6.19% | 1.22% | 19.17% |
| 2021 | 65.86% | 5.83% | 1.45% | 21.86% |
Tradesman wage gap by race
According to our data, asian tradesmen have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american tradesmen have the lowest average salary at $36,816.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $38,192 |
| White | $39,552 |
| Black or African American | $36,816 |
| Asian | $40,710 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $38,186 |
Average tradesman age
See how the average age of tradesmen varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Tradesman age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 47 | 40 |
| Unknown | 44 | |
| Asian | 48 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 | 44.5 |
| White | 47 | 49 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 51 |
Tradesman age breakdown
The average age of tradesmen is 40+ years years old, representing 68% of the tradesman population.
Tradesman age breakdown
| Tradesman Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 68% |
| 30-40 years | 25% |
| 20-30 years | 7% |
Tradesman educational attainment
The most common degree for tradesmen is high school diploma, with 34% of tradesmen earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 23% and associate degree degree at 21%.
- High School Diploma, 34%
- Associate, 23%
- Bachelor's, 21%
- Diploma, 14%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Tradesmen by degree level
| Tradesman degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 34% |
| Associate | 23% |
| Bachelor's | 21% |
| Diploma | 14% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Tradesman jobs you might like
Tradesman wage gap by degree level
According to the data, tradesmen with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $42,797 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, tradesmen earn a median annual income of $39,998 compared to $39,257 for tradesmen with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $42,797 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,905 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,998 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,257 |
Tradesman employment statistics
Most tradesmen work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where tradesmen work
Below, you can see the size of companies where tradesmen work.
Tradesman jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 30% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Tradesman jobs by company type
Employees with the tradesman job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most tradesmen prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Tradesman jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 12% |
| Private | 72% |
| Government | 9% |
Tradesman jobs by industry
The most common industries for tradesmen are construction, professional and manufacturing.
Tradesman industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 24% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Government | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 8% |
| Education | 8% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Energy | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Tradesman turnover and employment statistics
Tradesman unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for tradesmen between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tradesman unemployment rate by year
| Year | Tradesman unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 11.78% |
| 2011 | 9.94% |
| 2012 | 7.61% |
| 2013 | 6.45% |
| 2014 | 4.25% |
| 2015 | 4.09% |
| 2016 | 3.74% |
| 2017 | 3.32% |
| 2018 | 3.03% |
| 2019 | 2.64% |
| 2020 | 4.62% |
| 2021 | 4.34% |
Average tradesman tenure
The average tradesman stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,008 tradesmen resumes in Zippia's database.
Tradesman tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 24% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Tradesman LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of tradesmen 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 1.69% | 47,261 |
| Coal Miner | 1.71% | 391 |
| Construction Labour | 1.77% | 48,914 |
| Drywall Finisher | 2.14% | 14,312 |
| Tradesman | 2.35% | - |
| Roughneck | 2.60% | 134 |
| Lead Painter | 5.83% | 5,163 |
Similar tradesman jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 1.69% | 47,261 |
| Coal Miner | 1.71% | 391 |
| Construction Labour | 1.77% | 48,914 |
| Drywall Finisher | 2.14% | 14,312 |
| Roughneck | 2.60% | 134 |
| Lead Painter | 5.83% | 5,163 |
Foreign languages spoken by tradesmen
The most common foreign language among tradesmen is Spanish at 82.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Mandarin at 4.3% and Greek is the third-most popular at 4.3%.
- Spanish, 82.6%
- Mandarin, 4.3%
- Greek, 4.3%
- Arabic, 4.3%
- Italian, 4.3%
Tradesman languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 82.6% |
| Mandarin | 4.3% |
| Greek | 4.3% |
| Arabic | 4.3% |
| Italian | 4.3% |
