Careers That Are Male Dominated
Copyright: Kriston Jae Bethel
Although women continue to be a large part of the workforce, there are still male-dominated careers and male-dominated industries. These numbers are changing, albeit slowly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that women born between 1980 and 1984 were more likely to have earned a bachelor's degree by age 31 than their male counterparts.
As women become more educated, opportunities increase for traditional male jobs. Still, the following 10 occupations have yet to see equal representation according to gender. Insider reported data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by the BLS and U.S. Census Bureau and created a list of stereotypical male jobs, as follows. Salaries are current as of 2019, unless otherwise stated, and can vary according to factors such as employer and geographic location.
Software developers: Only 19.1 percent of software developers are women. Entry into the field usually requires a bachelor's degree. Median pay, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is $105,590 per year, or $50.77 per hour. Median pay means that half in the field earned more, while half earned less.
Farmers: Just 24.4 percent of farmers in the U.S. are women. There are no formal education requirements for farmers, although earning a college degree in agriculture, animal husbandry or a related field can be an asset. The BLS reports median earnings as $71,160 per year, or $34.21 an hour.
Constructions workers: Women compose 9.9 percent of construction industry trades. Laborer jobs typically pay $36,000 per year, or $17.31 per hour, according to the BLS. Skilled tradespeople and construction managers can earn much more, depending on training and experience. The annual median 2019 pay for a construction manager, as reported by the BLS, was $95,260.
Financial analysts: Only 39.9 percent of financial analysts are women. Entry-level positions require a bachelor's degree. The 2018 median pay, according to the BLS, was $85,660 a year.
Aerospace engineers: Less than 8 percent of aerospace engineers are female. A minimum of a bachelor's degree is required to get started in the field, which paid a median salary of $116,500 per year in 2019, according to the BLS.
Clergy: Among the clergy, only 17.6 percent are women. Some religious sects don't ordain women, which contributes to the large gender disparity. The BLS reported an average annual wage of $55,190. Educational requirements vary according to denomination or sect.
Television, video and motion picture camera operators and editors: In these male-dominated careers, women hold 21.4 percent of the jobs. A bachelor's degree is typically required for entry into the field, which paid a median annual salary of $59,810 in 2019, according to the BLS.
Architects: Although half of architecture students are female, they only make up 25.5 percent of the workforce in the field. Architects need at least a bachelor's degree to get started in the field, where the BLS reports the average individual earns $80,750 a year
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers: In these traditional male jobs, only 5.2 percent of pilots and flight engineers are women. Airline pilots need a bachelor's degree, while commercial pilots can possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Flight training and minimum flight hours are mandatory. Airline and commercial pilots earned a median annual salary of $123,430 in 2019, according to the BLS.
Firefighters: Women have yet to make headway in this male-dominated field; they represent only 3 .5 percent of today's firefighters. Employment as a firefighter requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus additional training by a fire department or vocational-technical school. Median pay, according to the BLS, is $50,850 a year.
Gains in Male-Dominated Fields
According to research cited by Business News Daily, women have made significant gains in fields that were once dominated by males. The following is a list of such jobs, followed by the percentage of women in the job:
Lawyers: 48 percent
Veterinarians: 48 percent
Commercial and industrial designers: 48 percent
Marketing managers: 47 percent
Optometrists: 43 percent
Management analysts: 43 percent
Sales managers: 43 percent
Producers and directors: 42 percent
Chemists: 42 percent
Coaches and scouts: 41 percent