Female Force: Part 2: Jobs with the Highest Percentage of Women Workers

© 2012 by Aurelio Locsin.

This hub is part 2 of a series that began with Female Force: Part 1: Jobs with the Greatest Number of Women Workers. You may want to read that hub first for comparison. The following are the top ten jobs with the highest percentage of women workers, which is shown in parentheses. Before that are the number of workers in the position and the job title. All information comes from the U.S. Department of Labor.

1. Dental assistants - 288,600 (97.5%): Assist dentists by performing administrative work and laboratory duties. Many are trained on the job though post-secondary dental assisting programs are also available. Median wages are $16.09 per hour. The range is $10.90 per hour or $22,680 per year to $22.64 per hour or $47,090 per year.
2. Preschool and kindergarten teachers - 690,640 (97%): Instruct children before the age of five. Job qualifications vary by state but generally require a state license. Kindergarten teachers also require a bachelor’s degree. Preschool teachers make a median $12.35 per hour. Their range is $8.27 per hour or $17,200 per year to $22.252 per hour or $46,830 per year. Kindergarten teachers earn a median $48,800 per year, with a range from $31,720 to $76,490.
3. Speech-language pathologists - 127,116 (96.3%): Diagnose and treat speech, language and communication disorders. They require a master’s degree and most states also mandate a license. Wages range from $20.66 per hour or $42,970 per year to $49.82 per hour or $103,630 per year. The median is $32.17 per hour or $66,920 per year.
4. Secretaries and administrative assistants - 2,961,802 (96.1%): Assist executives and other business professionals by performing administrative duties. Their education varies by position but starts at high-school diplomas for lower-level clerks to bachelor’s degrees or better for secretaries to corporate heads. The median pay is $20.92 per hour or $43,520 per year. The range runs from $13.82 per hour or $28,740 per year to $32.21 per hour or $67,000 per year.
5. Dental hygienists - 134,091 (95.1%): Help dentists by cleaning the teeth or patients and providing information about good dental practices. A dental hygiene program is the minimum educational requirement. Salaries range from $21.64 per hour or $45,000 per year to $45.11 per hour or $93,820 per year. The median is $32.81 per hour or $68,250 per year.
6. Childcare workers - 1,180,909 (94.7%): Care for children who are not in pre-school or kindergarten. Depending on the state, they may start with high school diploma or require a bachelor’s degree as well as a state license. The median pay is $9.28 per hour or $19,300 per year. The range is $7.65 per hour or $15,900 per year to $14.08 per hour or $29,280 per year.
7. Receptionists and information clerks - 1,187,487 (92.7%): Make a good first impression on visitors and perform such clerical tasks as answering phones. Most receive training on the job though a high-school diploma or post-secondary business training is often necessary. Wages go from $8.44 per hour or $17,560 per year to $17.75 per hour or $36,910 per year. The median goes from $12.14 per hour or $25,240 per year to $17.61 or $36,620 per year.
8. Word processors and typists - 133,200 (92.5%): Type documents such as letters and reports into computer systems. Most are trained on the job after a high school diploma. The median pay is $16.06 per hour or $33,400 per year. The range is $11.05 per hour or $22,990 per year to $22.56 per hour or $46,930 per year.
9. Teacher assistants - 892,584 (92.4%): Help teachers by providing clerical assistance and classroom support. Educational requirements vary by state and can start with a high-school diploma and on-the-job training. Some need at least a two-year or higher degree. The pay runs from $16,510 to $36,130 per year, with a median of $23,220.
10. Dietitians and nutritionists - 96,915 (92.3%): Plan menus and manage food programs at public and private facilities such as nursing homes, hospitals and schools. The job requires a minimum bachelor’s degree, with most states mandating licensing or certification. The median pay is $25.60 per hour or $53,250 per year. The range is from $16.03 per hour or $33,330 per year to $36.29 per hour or $75,480 per year.