There's no denying that the job market is shifting and women are entering the workforce in droves. In fact, 24/7 Wall Street compared U.S. Census data from 2000 to 2016 on employment composition by gender in over 300 occupations and found that, in some specific fields, female workers have increased by 20 percentage points. In total, as of 2016, 43.1 percent of all U.S. workers were female, compared to 40.5 percent in 2000.
While the gender gap nonetheless persists, this list is a reflection of the headway women in the workplace have made thus far. In fact, half of the jobs on this list are high-paying and, for many, the median earnings for women are higher than the median earnings for all workers ($45,860).
If you're looking for a job or thinking about making a career change, consider one of these careers where women are being welcomed and climbing on up. More than half of all workers in the following 20 jobs are women.
1. Public Relations Specialists
In 2000, women represented 58.9 percent of public relations specialists. In 2016, they represented 65.3 percent.
- Median earnings: $65,386
2. Office Machine Operators
In 2000, women represented 56.4 percent of office machine operators. In 2016, they represented 62.9 percent.
- Median earnings: $30,788
3. Social and Community Service Managers
In 2000, women represented 62.7 percent of social and community service managers. In 2016, they represented 69.32.9 percent.
- Median earnings: $56,610
4. Production, Planning and Expediting Clerks
In 2000, women represented 50.6 percent of production, planning and expediting clerks. In 2016, they represented 57.3 percent.
- Median earnings: $48,582
5. Parking Enforcement Officers
In 2000, women represented 44 percent of parking enforcement officers. In 2016, they represented 50.8 percent.
- Median earnings: $39,298
6. Technical Writers
In 2000, women represented 51.4 percent of technical writers. In 2016, they represented 58.2 percent.
- Median earnings: $71,388
7. Lodging Managers
In 2000, women represented 45.8 percent of lodging managers. In 2016, they represented 52.7 percent.
- Median earnings: $45,875
8. Compliance Officers
In 2000, women represented 45.1 percent of compliance officers. In 2016, they represented 52.6 percent.
- Median earnings: $69,262
9. Nonfarm Animal Caretakers
In 2000, women represented 63.7 percent of nonfarm animal caretakers. In 2016, they represented 71.4 percent.
- Median earnings: $25,210
10. Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
In 2000, women represented 74.7 percent of fabric and apparel patternmakers. In 2016, they represented 82.6 percent. This is the most heavily female-dominated field on this list.
- Median earnings: $61,630
11. Writers and Authors
In 2000, women represented 46.4 percent of writers and authors. In 2016, they represented 56.6 percent.
- Median earnings: $55,464
12. Opticians
In 2000, women represented 60.7 percent of opticians. In 2016, they represented 71 percent.
- Median earnings: $37,389
13. First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
In 2000, women represented 54.7 percent of first-line supervisors of personal service workers. In 2016, they represented 65.4 percent.
- Median earnings: $32,240
14. Bakers
In 2000, women represented 43 percent of bakers. In 2016, they represented 54 percent.
- Median earnings: $25,848
15. Animal Trainers
Women now make up more than half of animal trainers. In 2000, women represented 40.6 percent of animal trainers. In 2016, they represented 51.8 percent.
- Median earnings: $29,978
16. Graders and Sorters of Agricultural Products
In 2000, women represented 53 percent of graders and sorters. In 2016, they represented 55 percent.
- Median earnings: $21,235
17. Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
Women make up more than two-thirds of public relations and fundraising managers today. In 2000, women represented 54.7 percent. In 2016, they represented 67.3 percent.
- Median earnings: $77,835
18. Pharmacists
In 2000, women represented 39.1 percent of pharmacists. In 2016, they represented 54.6 percent.
- Median earnings: $120,878
19. Natural Science Managers
In 2000, women represented 30.3 percent of natural science managers. In 2016, they represented 52.8 percent. That's a 22.5 percentage point increase.
- Median earnings: $92,161
20. Veterinarians
The number of female vets more than doubled with a 24 percentage point increase since 2000. In 2000, women represented 30 percent of verternarians. In 2016, they represented 59.1 percent.
- Median earnings: $90,063
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AnnaMarie Houlis is a multimedia journalist and an adventure aficionado with a keen cultural curiosity and an affinity for solo travel. She's an editor by day and a travel blogger at HerReport.org by night.
