Business Owner demographics and statistics in the US
Business owner demographics research summary. Zippia estimates business owner demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our business owner estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about business owners after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 783,183 business owners currently employed in the United States.
- 48.6% of all business owners are women, while 51.4% are men.
- The average business owner age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of business owners is White (67.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (15.5%), Asian (6.4%) and Black or African American (6.3%).
- Business owners are most in-demand in Memphis, TN.
- The retail industry is the highest-paying for business owners.
- Seattle, WA pays an annual average wage of $121,623, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women business owners earned 86% of what men earned.
- 10% of all business owners are LGBT.
- Washington is the best state for business owners to live.
- Business owners are 78% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On This Page
Business Owner demographics by:
Business Owner gender statistics
48.6% of business owners are women and 51.4% of business owners are men.
- Male, 51.4%
- Female, 48.6%
Business Owner gender ratio
Gender  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 51.4% |
| Female | 48.6% |
Business Owner gender pay gap
Women earn 86¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$53,813
Female Income
$46,257
Business Owner gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in business owner positions over time. Currently, 48.6% of business owners are female.
Business Owner gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 57.53% | 42.47% |
| 2011 | 56.81% | 43.19% |
| 2012 | 55.94% | 44.06% |
| 2013 | 56.51% | 43.49% |
| 2014 | 58.46% | 41.54% |
| 2015 | 57.08% | 42.92% |
| 2016 | 58.04% | 41.96% |
| 2017 | 55.24% | 44.76% |
| 2018 | 55.15% | 44.85% |
| 2019 | 53.06% | 46.94% |
| 2020 | 53.18% | 46.82% |
| 2021 | 51.37% | 48.63% |
Business Owner related jobs gender ratio
We compared business owners with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, district commercial superintendent and street superintendent have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant To General Manager | 9% | 91% |
| Manager Stylist | 9% | 91% |
| Salon Manager | 12% | 88% |
| Business Owner | 51% | 49% |
| General Superintendent | 97% | 3% |
| Street Superintendent | 97% | 3% |
| District Commercial Superintendent | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Business Owner demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among business owners is White, which makes up 67.0% of all business owners. Comparatively, 15.5% of business owners are Hispanic or Latino and 6.4% of business owners are Asian.
- White, 67.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.5%
- Asian, 6.4%
- Black or African American, 6.3%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Business Owner Race
| Business Owner Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.5% |
| Asian | 6.4% |
| Black or African American | 6.3% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Business Owner race and ethnicity over time
See how business owner racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Business Owner race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 74.69% | 6.37% | 5.33% | 11.31% |
| 2011 | 74.53% | 6.53% | 5.35% | 11.02% |
| 2012 | 74.18% | 6.10% | 5.49% | 12.10% |
| 2013 | 74.69% | 5.92% | 5.53% | 11.46% |
| 2014 | 73.58% | 5.89% | 5.42% | 12.82% |
| 2015 | 73.60% | 5.96% | 5.36% | 12.74% |
| 2016 | 71.27% | 6.47% | 5.81% | 13.95% |
| 2017 | 72.62% | 5.95% | 5.55% | 13.45% |
| 2018 | 72.19% | 5.72% | 6.13% | 13.32% |
| 2019 | 70.80% | 6.00% | 6.17% | 14.39% |
| 2020 | 69.05% | 6.03% | 5.81% | 14.28% |
| 2021 | 66.99% | 6.27% | 6.44% | 15.48% |
Business Owner wage gap by race
According to our data, asian business owners have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american business owners have the lowest average salary at $50,539.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $52,690 |
| White | $55,549 |
| Black or African American | $50,539 |
| Asian | $56,808 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $53,705 |
Business Owner JOBS
Average business owner age
See how the average age of business owners varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Business Owner age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 45 |
| Unknown | 42 | 41 |
| Asian | 43 | 41 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 42 | 40 |
| White | 45 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 43 | 44 |
Business Owner age breakdown
The average age of business owners is 40+ years years old, representing 64% of the business owner population.
Business Owner age breakdown
| Business Owner Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 64% |
| 30-40 years | 30% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Business Owner educational attainment
The most common degree for business owners is bachelor's degree, with 52% of business owners earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 10%.
- Bachelor's, 52%
- Associate, 21%
- High School Diploma, 10%
- Master's, 9%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Business Owners by degree level
| Business Owner Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 52% |
| Associate | 21% |
| High School Diploma | 10% |
| Master's | 9% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
Business Owner Jobs You Might Like
Business Owner wage gap by degree level
According to the data, business owners with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $73,941 annually. With a Doctorate degree, business owners earn a median annual income of $70,031 compared to $59,594 for business owners with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $73,941 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $44,395 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $59,594 |
| Doctorate Degree | $70,031 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,387 |
Business Owner employment statistics
Most business owners work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where business owners work
Below, you can see the size of companies where business owners work.
Business Owner jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 12% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 24% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 25% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 18% |
| > 10,000 employees | 15% |
Business Owner jobs by company type
Employees with the business owner job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most business owners prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Business Owner jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 16% |
| Private | 78% |
| Government | 3% |
Business Owner jobs by industry
The most common industries for business owners are retail, professional and manufacturing.
Business Owner industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 15% |
| Manufacturing | 10% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Health Care | 7% |
| Media | 5% |
| Finance | 5% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Start-up | 5% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Government | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Real Estate | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Business Owner turnover and employment statistics
Business Owner unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for business owners between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Business Owner unemployment rate by year
| Year | Business Owner Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.02% |
| 2011 | 5.17% |
| 2012 | 4.50% |
| 2013 | 3.74% |
| 2014 | 3.19% |
| 2015 | 2.83% |
| 2016 | 2.57% |
| 2017 | 2.68% |
| 2018 | 2.15% |
| 2019 | 2.22% |
| 2020 | 3.68% |
| 2021 | 4.01% |
Average business owner tenure
The average business owner stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 35,646 business owners resumes in Zippia's database.
Business Owner tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 4% |
| 1-2 years | 19% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 21% |
| 8-10 years | 10% |
| 11+ years | 29% |
Business Owner LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of business owners 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manager Of Environmental Services | 7.93% | 92,312 |
| Lead Project Coordinator | 8.41% | 58,742 |
| Corporate Sales Manager | 9.38% | 119,633 |
| Business Owner | 10.39% | - |
| Police Commissioner | 11.63% | 2,228 |
| Payroll/Human Resource Manager | 13.02% | 48,899 |
| Promotion Manager | 14.95% | 8,515 |
Similar business owner jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Manager Of Environmental Services | 7.93% | 92,312 |
| Lead Project Coordinator | 8.41% | 58,742 |
| Corporate Sales Manager | 9.38% | 119,633 |
| Police Commissioner | 11.63% | 2,228 |
| Payroll/Human Resource Manager | 13.02% | 48,899 |
| Promotion Manager | 14.95% | 8,515 |
Foreign languages spoken by business owners
The most common foreign language among business owners is Spanish at 54.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 9.2% and German is the third-most popular at 4.8%.
- Spanish, 54.3%
- French, 9.2%
- German, 4.8%
- Arabic, 4.3%
- Portuguese, 3.8%
- Other, 23.6%
Business Owner languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 54.3% |
| French | 9.2% |
| German | 4.8% |
| Arabic | 4.3% |
| Portuguese | 3.8% |
| Other | 23.6% |
