- Despite the women’s rights and equality movements, some jobs fields are disproportionately male.
- Not all male-dominated industries are physically demanding.
- Opportunities are plentiful for women seeking work in trades and other male-dominated professions.
Across the United States, there’s more than a handful of industries that feature a very limited number of female workers. Some of these are jobs in trades and other labor-intensive roles, as expected. However, others are unique roles in industries that are generally favorable to female workers. Thankfully, a shift in attitudes over recent decades has made plenty of room for women in these male-dominated positions across the country.
Read on to discover some of the most male-dominated jobs in the United States. Many of these industries are desperately seeking female workers, in order to diversify their workforce. We’ll also tell you what to expect in terms of salary and job outlook, for anyone who might be interested in filling these positions.
1. Electrical Powerline Installers/Repairers
Throughout the United States, just 0.7% of electrical powerline installers and repairers were female, as of 2021. That means an estimated total of just 875 females have this job in the United States. Line installers and repairers face major risks at work, including obstacles such as extreme heights and high-voltage electricity. They also work long hours, often taking shifts in the evenings, overnight or on weekends.
The average U.S. powerline installer and repairer earns $68,030 per year. The projected outlook for openings in this position is expected to remain steady at least until 2030.
Shutterstock2. Crane and Tower Operators
As of 2021, only 1.1% of crane and tower operators in the United States were women. People in this role are expected to work with heavy machinery, including mechanical booms and cable equipment that helps construction teams move oversized materials and other machines.
Although this industry is male-dominated, businesses across the United States and Canada are consistently searching for qualified journeywomen who can handle the role. The average salary for crane operators in the United States is $56,690 per year.
Shutterstock3. Electrical and Electronics Engineers
While a fair number of women are employed in architecture and engineering occupations in the United States, particularly as industrial engineers and architects, the number of women in electrical and electronics engineering is low. Only 10.9% of these positions are filled be females.
Workers in this position design and develop electronics and electrical equipment, including communications and navigation systems. The average salary for this position is $103,390 per year. New opportunities in this role are expected to grow 7% by 2030.
Shutterstock4. Computer Network Architects
The information technology industry has a large female presence. In fact, some roles even boast numbers near 50% when it comes to female workers. However, the role of computer network architect, which employs more than 100,000 Americans, is only 11.8% female.
While growth for this job is slightly below average, with projections of 5% growth by 2030, the average income is generous at $116,780 per year. Women interested in a career as a computer network architect should have high-level technical ability to design and build data networks.
Shutterstock5. Surveying and Mapping Technicians
Out of the 57,000 surveying and mapping technicians who are employed across the United States, just 12.6% are female. While this job requires outdoor work and occasional exposure to extreme weather, it’s not particularly demanding.
Most surveyors spend their time indoors working on computers and keep normal office hours. The average salary for a surveyor is $46,200 per year. The anticipated growth for this job is slightly below average at 4% by the year 2030.
Shutterstock6. Clergy
Most community and social service occupations are strictly dominated by females. In fact, 83.6% of social workers and 75.6% of mental health counsellors are female. However, only 16.2% of the country’s employed clergy are women.
This occupation, which includes religious and spiritual leaders of all denominations, provides spiritual guidance and counselling services to congregations, individually or as a group. Most clergy members in the United States are employed by religious organizations, such as synagogues and churches. They earn an average annual salary of $49,720.
Shutterstock7. Broadcast, Sound, and Lighting Technicians
As part of the arts and entertainment industry, broadcast, sound, and lighting technicians provide important services for film and television makers. Many are employed at local television stations. These people make sure that both audio and lighting are working, and that broadcasts are sent out properly.
However, just 11.2% of the estimated 87,000 employees in this occupation are female. Opportunities in this job are expected to increase by 21% by 2030. The average salary for this position is $50,000 per year.
Shutterstock8. Firefighters
An estimated 294,000 career firefighters work across the United States. Unfortunately, only 5.1% of them are women. This job requires a high level of physical fitness and health, as well as exceptional strength and endurance. That said, many women across the United States are up for the challenge as much as any man.
Fire departments from coast-to-coast are seeking qualified women for the job. Firefighters earn an average of $52,500 annually, and the outlook for this career is expected to grow 8% by 2030.
Shutterstock9. Police Officers
Police officers are required to work long hours and sometimes perform physically demanding work. Many are subjected to violence regularly, and the risks associated with the occupation are high. Of the estimated 753,000 police officers working in the United States, only 15.3% are female.
However, police forces in the United States and beyond are striving to hire more women and increase the diversity of their squads. Not every policing role is overly dangerous, either. Community outreach is also a large goal of many PDs. Police officers earn an average of $67,290 per year. The job outlook for this career path is expected to grow by 7% by 2030.
Shutterstock10. Landscapers and Groundskeepers
Building and grounds maintenance jobs are largely held by men in the United States, with women making up just 6.2% of the 1.2 million+ who hold these positions. This job involves physically demanding tasks such as laying sod, mowing lawns, trimming trees, digging gardens, and installing sprinkler systems. Plus dealing with the hot sun on plenty of long summer days.
Landscapers are most heavily employed in metropolitan areas, including Boston, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. The states of California and Florida employ the highest volume of landscapers in the United States. However, the average salary for landscapers and groundskeepers is only $34,430 per year.
Shutterstock11. Cement Masons
This profession carries the lowest female employment rate in the United States at around one percent. In fact, only 3.9% of the nation’s entire construction workforce is female. There are more than 67,000 cement masons working across the United States. As of May 2021, their average earnings were $47,340 per year.
While plenty of physical strength is required to do this job, women who are physically fit should be able to handle it without a problem. In this role, workers are responsible for pouring, smoothing, and aligning concrete for roads, sidewalks, and other fixtures.
Shutterstock12. Building Inspectors
Of the estimated 71,000 building inspectors employed in the United States, only 10% are female. That’s just 7,100 women inspectors in a country of 330 million people. A building inspector is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of homes, businesses, and other properties during construction (or before ownership transfers).
On average, U.S. building inspectors earn $62,860 annually. Although there is some room for females to join this profession, the outlook for this job is on the decline with an anticipated 3% reduction in work opportunities anticipated by 2030.
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