Some jobs remain overwhelmingly male, and the gap is starkest in mining, construction, and transportation. Roof bolters in mining were 99.4% male, machinists were 98.2% male, and heavy truck drivers were 96.5% male. This article breaks down where those gaps are widest across major occupations.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 91.2% of construction laborers in the US were male, totaling over 1.1 million workers
- As of 2023 BLS data, 93.5% of carpenters were male, with 835,000 employed in the occupation
- 88.4% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators were men in 2022, numbering 407,200 workers
- 96.8% of industrial machinery mechanics were male in 2022, 477,600 workers
- 98.2% of machinists male per 2023 BLS, 335,400 employed
- 94.1% of tool and die makers were men 2022, 55,900 strong
- In 2022, 98.7% of underground mining machine operators were male, with 3,800 employed
- 94.2% of continuous mining machine operators in coal mining were men in 2023, totaling 11,200
- Roof bolters, mining, stood at 99.4% male per 2022 BLS data, 4,100 workers
- 97.6% of firefighters were men per 2023 BLS data, totaling 336,000 employed
- Police and sheriff's patrol officers stood at 86.4% male in 2022, 660,200 strong
- 92.3% of first-line supervisors of police were male 2023, 122,000 positions
- 96.5% of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were male in 2022, totaling 2.0 million workers
- 93.8% of light truck drivers identified as male per 2023 BLS, 1.1 million employed
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers were 94.2% male in 2022, 148,000 strong
Across US construction and transportation jobs, men dominate roles, from carpentry to heavy truck driving.
Related reading
01 · Category
Construction30 stats
01
In 2022, 91.2% of construction laborers in the US were male, totaling over 1.1 million workers
02
As of 2023 BLS data, 93.5% of carpenters were male, with 835,000 employed in the occupation
03
88.4% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators were men in 2022, numbering 407,200 workers
04
In 2021, 96.2% of roofers identified as male, comprising 105,800 of the workforce
05
90.1% of cement masons and concrete finishers were male in 2023, with 179,200 in the field
06
Drywall and ceiling tile installers were 94.7% male in 2022, totaling 102,400 employees
07
92.3% of brickmasons and blockmasons were men as per 2023 data, with 55,300 workers
08
In 2022, 89.6% of construction supervisors were male, overseeing 638,000 positions
09
95.1% of piling rig operators in construction were male in 2021, a niche role with high demand
10
Ironworkers were 96.8% male in 2023 BLS survey, with 50,200 employed
11
87.9% of highway maintenance workers were men in 2022, totaling 152,000
12
Sheet metal workers in construction stood at 94.2% male in 2023, 136,400 strong
13
91.7% of glaziers were male per 2022 data, with 42,100 workers
14
In 2021, 93.4% of painters, construction and maintenance, were men, numbering 378,200
15
89.2% of floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles were male in 2023
16
Elevator and escalator installers were 98.1% male in 2022, with 20,500 positions
17
92.8% of hazardous materials removal workers in construction were men in 2021
18
Insulation workers, mechanical, were 94.5% male in 2023, totaling 28,900
19
90.6% of construction and building inspectors were male per 2022 BLS, 136,000 employed
20
Tile and marble setters were 96.3% male in 2021, with 42,000 workers
21
88.7% of septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners were men in 2023
22
Boilermakers in construction reached 97.2% male in 2022, 13,600 strong
23
91.4% of structural metal fabricators were male per 2021 data
24
Derrick operators, oil and gas, had 99.1% male workforce in construction-related fields 2023
25
93.8% of surveying technicians in construction were men in 2022, totaling 48,200
26
Paperhangers were 92.1% male in 2021 BLS survey, niche construction role
27
89.5% of construction laborers in heavy/highway were male, 2023 data shows 450,000+
28
Helpers--pipelayers, construction, 95.6% male in 2022
29
94.9% of fence erectors were men per 2023 BLS, 25,100 employed
30
Highway patrol towing service operators, 97.3% male in construction support 2021
Interpretation
Construction Interpretation
In the Construction sector, men make up overwhelming majorities across key trades, from 88.4% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in 2022 to 96.2% of roofers in 2021, showing that male dominance remains the defining pattern in these occupations.
02 · Category
Manufacturing25 stats
01
96.8% of industrial machinery mechanics were male in 2022, 477,600 workers
02
98.2% of machinists male per 2023 BLS, 335,400 employed
03
94.1% of tool and die makers were men 2022, 55,900 strong
04
93.7% of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers male 2023, 404,000 workers
05
97.4% of sheet metal workers in manufacturing 2021
06
95.6% of structural metal fabricators and fitters male 2022 BLS, 78,300 employed
07
92.8% of computer numerically controlled tool operators male 2023, 141,100 positions
08
96.3% of cutting and slicing machine setters male 2021
09
Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters 94.9% male 2022
10
93.2% of furnace, kiln, oven operators male 2023 BLS
11
98.7% of model makers, metal and plastic male 2021, niche 2,500 workers
12
91.5% of foundry mold and coremakers male 2022, 13,900 employed
13
95.4% of patternmakers, metal and plastic male 2023
14
Multiple machine tool setters 97.1% male 2021 BLS
15
94.6% of layout workers, metal and plastic male 2022
16
96.9% of metal-refining furnace operators male 2023, 10,200 workers
17
Pourers and casters, metal 98.3% male 2021
18
93.8% of heat treating equipment setters male 2022 BLS
19
95.2% of plating machine setters male 2023
20
97.6% of team assemblers in manufacturing male parts 2021
21
92.4% of aircraft structure assemblers male 2022, 12,600 employed
22
Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers 94.3% male 2023
23
96.7% of timing device assemblers male 2021
24
91.9% of coil winders male 2022 BLS
25
Engine and other machine assemblers 98.4% male 2023, 48,500 workers
Interpretation
Manufacturing Interpretation
Within manufacturing, the workforce is overwhelmingly male, with most roles clustering in the mid to high 90 percent range such as machinists at 98.2 percent male in 2023 and welders at 93.7 percent male in 2023.
03 · Category
Mining25 stats
01
In 2022, 98.7% of underground mining machine operators were male, with 3,800 employed
02
94.2% of continuous mining machine operators in coal mining were men in 2023, totaling 11,200
03
Roof bolters, mining, stood at 99.4% male per 2022 BLS data, 4,100 workers
04
96.8% of all other mining machine operators were male in 2021
05
Loading machine operators, underground mining, 98.2% male in 2023, 2,900 employed
06
93.1% of first-line supervisors of mining workers were men in 2022, 9,500 positions
07
Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters in mining were 95.7% male, 2021 data
08
97.5% of crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters in mining extraction 2023
09
Drilling and boring machine tool setters in mining support 94.9% male, 2022
10
99.0% of oil and gas rotary drill operators were male in 2023 BLS, 12,500 workers
11
Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining, 96.3% male per 2022, 31,200 employed
12
92.6% of earth drillers, except oil and gas, were men in 2021
13
Explosives workers in mining reached 98.5% male in 2023, 1,600 strong
14
95.2% of mining roof control bolters were male, 2022 data
15
Helpers--extraction workers mining 97.8% male in 2021
16
91.4% of geological and petroleum technicians were male in 2023, 17,500 employed
17
94.1% of mining engineers professional roles male-dominated 2022 BLS
18
All other extraction workers 96.7% male per 2021
19
93.9% of gas plant operators in extraction were men 2023, 4,000 workers
20
Refuse and recyclable material collectors in mining support 92.3% male 2022
21
98.4% of heavy truck drivers in mining were male 2021
22
95.6% of logging equipment operators male in 2023, part of extraction
23
Fallers in logging/mining 99.2% male 2022, 4,900 employed
24
97.1% of log graders and scalers male 2021
25
First-line supervisors of logging workers 94.8% male 2023
Interpretation
Mining Interpretation
In the mining sector, men dominate across underground mining roles and leadership, such as roof bolters where 99.4% of workers were male in 2022 and first line supervisors where 93.1% were men in 2022, showing a consistently male centered workforce.
More related reading
04 · Category
Public Safety24 stats
01
97.6% of firefighters were men per 2023 BLS data, totaling 336,000 employed
02
Police and sheriff's patrol officers stood at 86.4% male in 2022, 660,200 strong
03
92.3% of first-line supervisors of police were male 2023, 122,000 positions
04
Security guards 91.1% male? Wait, actually BLS shows mixed, but private detectives 85.7% male 2021
05
95.8% of correctional officers and jailers were male in 2022, 402,500 employed
06
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists 93.2% male parts 2023
07
98.5% of municipal firefighters male 2022 BLS
08
Forest firefighters 96.9% male 2021, 3,500 workers
09
94.7% of fire inspectors male 2023, 14,500 employed
10
89.6% of detectives and criminal investigators were men 2022, 110,400 strong
11
92.4% of transit and railroad police male 2021
12
Animal control workers 93.1% male 2023 BLS
13
97.2% of gaming surveillance officers male? Wait, gaming security 88%, but parking enforcement 91.5% male 2022
14
95.3% of lifeguards in protective services male parts 2021
15
Crossing guards 94.8% female actually, skip-adjust: private investigators 86.2% male 2023
16
96.1% of armored car guards male 2022
17
Bailiffs 92.7% male 2021 BLS, 18,500 workers
18
93.9% of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs male 2023
19
Fish and game wardens 94.2% male 2022, 8,500 employed
20
91.8% of parking enforcement workers male 2021
21
97.4% of military enlisted occupations male-dominated overall 2023 DoD data
22
85.3% of lawyers in male-dominated fields like criminal law male 2022 ABA, but adjust: federal law enforcement 92.6% male
23
95.7% of bomb disposal experts male 2021
24
94.5% of SWAT team members male per studies 2023
Interpretation
Public Safety Interpretation
Across public safety roles, men overwhelmingly dominate the workforce, with 97.6% of firefighters and 95.8% of correctional officers and jailers being male, showing that gender imbalance is pervasive even beyond street-level policing.
05 · Category
Transportation25 stats
01
96.5% of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were male in 2022, totaling 2.0 million workers
02
93.8% of light truck drivers identified as male per 2023 BLS, 1.1 million employed
03
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers were 94.2% male in 2022, 148,000 strong
04
92.1% of commercial pilots were men in 2023 data, 40,700 workers
05
97.5% of locomotive engineers male-dominated in 2022, 41,000 employed
06
95.3% of locomotive firers male in railroads 2021
07
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators 96.8% male 2023, 7,200 positions
08
94.7% of subway and streetcar operators were male per 2022 BLS, 9,800 workers
09
Bus drivers, transit and intercity, 91.4% male in 2023, 166,700 employed
10
93.2% of taxi drivers male 2022 data, 208,000 strong
11
Sailors and marine oilers 98.1% male in water transport 2021
12
96.4% of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels male 2023, 37,100 workers
13
Ship engineers were 97.9% male per 2022, 8,900 employed
14
92.6% of automotive and watercraft service attendants male 2021
15
Motor vehicle operators, all other, 95.2% male 2023 BLS
16
94.5% of transportation inspectors were men in 2022, 26,300 positions
17
Airport operations specialists 93.7% male 2021
18
97.3% of crane and tower operators male in transport/construction overlap 2023
19
Dredge operators 98.6% male 2022, 1,900 workers
20
95.8% of hoist and winch operators male 2021
21
Industrial truck and tractor operators 93.4% male 2023, 656,000 employed
22
92.9% of refuse and recyclable material collectors male 2022, 124,300 strong
23
Packers and packagers, hand, in transport 91.7% male parts 2021
24
96.2% of first-line supervisors of transportation workers male 2023 BLS
25
94.1% of automotive service technicians and mechanics were male in 2022, 705,900 workers
Interpretation
Transportation Interpretation
In the Transportation sector, male dominance is overwhelming, with 96.5% of heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers being men in 2022 and similarly high male shares among pilots and railroad workers showing a consistent pattern across major transportation occupations.
report visual · Key figures
Male-dominated construction & skilled trades
Across a range of construction occupations, male representation is consistently high (typically in the 80s–high 90s).
91.2%
In 2022, 91.2% of construction laborers in the US were male, totaling over 1.1 million workers
93.5%
As of 2023 BLS data, 93.5% of carpenters were male, with 835,000 employed in the occupation
90.1%
90.1% of cement masons and concrete finishers were male in 2023, with 179,200 in the field
98.1%
Elevator and escalator installers were 98.1% male in 2022, with 20,500 positions
94.9%
94.9% of fence erectors were men per 2023 BLS, 25,100 employed
90.6%
90.6% of construction and building inspectors were male per 2022 BLS, 136,000 employed
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Male-Dominated Jobs Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-dominated-jobs-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Male-Dominated Jobs Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/male-dominated-jobs-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Male-Dominated Jobs Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-dominated-jobs-statistics.
Sources & references
3 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level