Ronda Suder 
Looking for a female-dominated career path? Here are the top 10.
Think about America's job landscape seventy years ago: In 1950, men made up more than two-thirds of the workforce, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. However, throughout the 1960s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s, and '10s, the gender gap steadily closed, with women making up 57.5% of the workforce as of 2019.
That leads to the question: what female-dominated careers are available?
Top 10 female-dominated careers
Traditionally, women worked as teachers, nurses, and secretaries. While that partially remains true, women are now taking over other professions previously dominated by men. Curious which ones?
Below is a list of the top 10 female-dominated careers, according to the most recent data from the BLS. Each female-dominated career listed has a female workforce of 90% or higher.
1. Skincare Specialists
Female workforce: 99.0%
Median pay: $43,200
Requirements: Postsecondary certificate and licensure
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 9%
Skincare Specialist holds the top spot on the female-dominated careers list. Skincare Specialists offer skin treatments for the face and body to support a person's skin health and appearance. They often work in medical spas, health spas, salons, or independently in their own practice.
To work as a Skincare Specialist, you must complete a state-approved esthetician or cosmetology program and then pass a state exam to secure licensure.
2. Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers
Female workforce: 96.7%
Median pay: $37,130 (preschool) and $63,670 (kindergarten)
Requirements: Associate degree (preschool) and bachelor's degree (kindergarten)
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 3% (preschool) and 1% (kindergarten)
Securing the second spot on the female-dominated careers list, early childhood educators play a pivotal role in caring for and educating kids. They typically work a 10-month school year (though some positions are year-round) and usually work in a public or private school or childcare center.
3. Legal, Medical, Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Female workforce: Legal Secretaries (96.4%), Medical Secretaries (92.8%), Executive Secretaries (90%), and all other Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (91.9%)
Median pay: $50,680 (legal), $40,640 (medical), $60,890 (executive), $46,010 (all other)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: -10%
Secretaries and administrative assistant jobs exist in nearly every industry, though you'll find the most positions in schools, hospitals, and government and legal offices. A high school diploma and several weeks of job training are typically required.
The general job growth for secretaries and administrative assistant positions is less promising than some of the other female-dominated careers on this list. That could be due, in part, to the automation of these jobs. However, the BLS predicts there'll likely be an increased need for medical secretaries over the next 10 years as aging baby boomers start to require more medical attention.
4. Dental Hygienists
Female workforce: 95.7%
Median pay: $87,530
Requirements: Associate degree
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 7%
Getting your teeth cleaned? You're likely making an appointment with a Dental Hygienist. As the second-highest paying job on the female-dominated professions list, a Dental Hygienist provides patients with preventative care, examining the mouth for signs of oral disease in the process.
Dental hygiene programs typically take three years to complete, and Hygienists must be licensed in the state in which they work. The job outlook for dental hygiene is positive due to the country's increased aging population and the growing amount of research pointing to the importance of good oral care.
5. Speech-Language Pathologists
Female workforce: 94.3%
Median pay: $89,290
Requirements: Master's degree
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 19%
Speech-language pathologist ranks as the highest paying job on the female-dominated careers list. The projected job growth for Speech-Language Pathologists is the highest on this list – it is expected to grow at least 19% from 2022 to 2032. That's because Speech Pathologists not only work with kids who have difficulty communicating, but they also work with adults who might have speech or language impairments as a result of a stroke, dementia, and other health conditions.
Speech-Language Pathologists typically need a master's degree and state license before they can start practicing.
6. Childcare Workers
Female workforce: 93.8%
Median pay: $30,370
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: -2%
Childcare Workers work in a variety of settings, including daycare centers, a private household, and sometimes even their own homes. Duties include dressing, feeding, monitoring playtime, and overall caring for children. Typically, no formal education is required, but sometimes positions call for an early childhood education degree depending on the place of employment.
7. Dental Assistants
Female workforce: 92.8%
Median pay: $46,540
Requirements: Varies
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 7%
Besides pay, the most significant difference between dental assistants and dental hygienists is that Dental Assistants directly support dentists. They might handle office tasks like scheduling appointments, perform basic dental care like polishing a patient's teeth, or prep patients for various procedures.
The educational requirements to become a Dental Assistant are also less rigorous than that of a Dental Hygienist. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program, while other states do not have any educational prerequisites at all. Instead, you would learn on the job.
8. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
Female workforce: 92.1%
Median pay: $35,080
Requirements: Postsecondary certificate
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 8%
Women make up a large majority of Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. Typically, these jobs are available in a barbershop or salon, but there's also an opportunity to offer these services in clients' homes. You can work for a larger company or start your own business; there's a lot of flexibility in this field.
All states require these professionals to be licensed. This means you need a degree from a state-approved barber or cosmetology program.
9. Billing and Posting Clerks
Female workforce: 91.4%
Median pay: $45,590
Requirements: Varies
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 0%
Billing and Posting Clerks support an organization's billing and account receivables. They help with tasks like billing, collecting and posting charges, preparing financial statements, and verifying financial data and transactions for accuracy.
Billing and Posting Clerks often only need a high school diploma or GED and receive on-the-job training. Some employers prefer a postsecondary certification or an associate's or bachelor's degree in economics, accounting, finance, or business.
10. Phlebotomists
Female workforce: 90.3%
Median pay: $41,810
Requirements: Postsecondary certificate
Job growth outlook from 2022 to 2032: 8%
Phlebotomy is another one of the female-dominated careers with the fastest-than-average growth rate. Phlebotomists work in settings like diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, doctors' offices, and blood donation centers to draw blood for research, lab work, and blood donations and transfusions.
These positions typically require a postsecondary non degree certification from a phlebotomy program. Some, however, enter the career with a high school diploma or GED and on-the-job training.
Female-dominated careers matter
Women continue to level out the workforce playing field and dominate specific professions compared to our male counterparts. It's exciting to imagine what the next decade will bring for women and to consider what female-dominated careers will make this list in 2030, along with how the gender pay gap will continue to shrink.
And know that the above is just the beginning of female dominated careers. If you feel your skills fit into a different female-dominated role, though you're not sure which one, you could always ask others for their opinions or turn to AI to help. AI is an excellent tool to gather insights and inspiration. For example, you might enter “female-focused careers that require writing skills” if you're seeking a job that incorporates your ability to write well. By entering the right prompt into an AI tool like ChatGPT, you'll receive a list of results that could inspire your next career path!
If you're interested in exploring one of these occupation fields, make sure your resume is in tip-top shape before you make the switch. Check with a free resume review from TopResume today.
This article was originally written by Carlson Cohler and has been updated by Ronda Suder.