In the labor market, gender segregation is the norm. This raises the question of which professions are dominated by women. Women have traditionally held positions as teachers, nurses, and secretaries. While this is still true in some ways, women are now taking over other professions that were previously dominated by men. We’ll look at the jobs that are dominated by women in this section.
- Pharmacists
The number of women working as pharmacists has nearly doubled since 2000. Two decades ago, women made up less than 40% of pharmacists. In 2016, women made up more than half of all pharmacists in the United States. The average pharmacist makes around $121,000 per year, which is more than double the median annual wage for all occupations. Pharmacists are not only well compensated, but there is almost no wage disparity between men and women in the profession.
2. Bakers
Cooking and baking have long been linked with female labor, such as when a mother feeds her family or when Grandma’s secret pie recipe is passed down. Professional baking, on the other hand, has traditionally been a man’s job outside the home, and this was the case until recently. However, since 2000, the number of female bakers has more than doubled, making women the majority of bakers. There is a mix of high and low median earnings in the jobs with the fastest growing female worker shares.
3. Dental assistants
Dental assistants work directly alongside dentists. They might help with office tasks like scheduling appointments as well as basic dental care like polishing a patient’s teeth and preparing them for procedures. A dental assistant’s educational requirements are also less stringent than those of a dental hygienist. Some states demand that assistants complete an accredited program, while others have no educational requirements at all. Instead, you’d pick up skills on the job.
4. Hairdressers
Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists are overwhelmingly female. These jobs are typically found in a barbershop or salon, but there is also the possibility of providing these services in the homes of clients. There is a lot of flexibility in this field; you can work for a larger company or start your own business. These professionals must be licensed in every state. This means you’ll need a barber or cosmetology degree from a state-approved program.
5. Writer
Science, engineering, and other technical fields continue to attract an increasing number of female applicants and workers, concurrent with rising college graduation rates among American women. Technical writers work on equipment manuals, appendices, and operating and maintenance instructions. Since 2000, female employment in most of the jobs on this list has increased to a majority share.
