Gender Pay Gap Statistics in the US 2024: Women Earn Just 84% of What Men Do

Despite women working longer hours and attaining higher education than in the past, there’s still a gender pay gap in the US. Even though more women are working now than at any time in US history – including in some of the highest-paying tech jobs, their pay still lags behind men by a significant margin.

This guide takes a closer look at the gender pay gap in detail and breaks down how it’s impacted by factors like location, age, industry, and more.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Short on Time? Here Are the Key Takeaways
2. Is There a Gender Pay Gap in the US in 2024?
3. Conclusion
4. FAQs
5. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Short on Time? Here Are the Key Takeaways
2. Is There a Gender Pay Gap in the US in 2024?
3. Conclusion
Show Full Guide
4. FAQs
5. References

Is There a Gender Pay Gap in the US in 2024?

Yes, there’s a 16% gap between what American men and women make, on average. This means that for every dollar a man makes, a woman makes 84 cents. The gap has gotten smaller over time but has remained relatively stagnant throughout the 21st century so far.

In fact, the gap has only shrunk by 8% between 2000 and 2023. While there’s no single concrete reason why women earn less than men, a recent survey done by the Pew Research Center asked Americans what they think.

• 50% of respondents feel that women being treated differently by employers is a major reason (30% believe it’s a minor reason)
• 42% of people feel that women’s tendency to make different choices about balancing work and family is a major reason (33% believe it’s a minor reason)
• 34% of people feel that women tending to work in jobs that pay less is a major reason  (35% believe it’s a minor reason)

Also, the same survey found that 48% of employed American women feel a great deal of pressure to focus on their at-home responsibilities. This is compared to only 35% for men. For employed American parents specifically, these numbers rise to 67% and 45%, respectively.

While knowing the average pay gap is important, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Several factors can alter the pay gap, such as location, age, industry, qualifications, and ethnicity.

The US Gender Pay Gap Based on Location

The location where you work has a major impact on how much you make as a woman. The states with the widest gender pay gaps in terms of median earnings are Utah, Louisiana, and Alabama.

• In Utah, women make 73.1% of what men make ($47,907 vs. $65,512)
• In Louisiana, women make 74.8% of what men make ($42,044 vs. $56,245)
• In Alabama, women make 75% of what men make ($42,006 vs. $56,038)

Some other states where the wage gap is wider than the US average include Idaho, Kansas, and Indiana.

Conversely, Vermont, California, and New York are the states with the smallest gap in median earnings between men and women.

• In Vermont, women make 89.3% of what men make ($54,972 vs. $61,551)
• In California, women make 88.2% of what men make ($59,731 vs $67,700)
• In New York, women make 87.5% of what men make ($60,990 vs. $69,668)

Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada are other states where the difference between wages isn’t as wide as the average.

While these numbers are an improvement, they also highlight the fact that no state has a women’s wage that is even 90% of that of men.

The US Gender Pay Gap Based on Age

The gender pay gap also differs depending on age. From 16 to 65, the pay disparity between men and women increases.

For example, in their teens and early 20s, women make around 90 cents per every dollar men their age earn, but this goes down to under 80 cents from their mid-40s to mid-60s. After that, the gap actually shrinks as women 65 and older earn just under 83% of what men do.

Here’s a detailed look at the gender wage gap for different age ranges:

• 16-19 year olds: Women earn 89.7% of what men do
• 20-24 year olds: Women earn 92.5% of what men do
• 25-34 year olds: Women earn 89% of what men do
• 35-44 year olds: Women earn 83.3% of what men do
• 45-54 year olds: Women earn 79.9% of what men do
• 55-64 year olds: Women earn 77.2% of what men do
• 65+ year olds: Women earn 82.7% of what men do

The US Gender Pay Gap Based on Industry

Industry type plays a significant part in the gender pay gap, with female full-time workers earning less than men in nearly every industry. The industries with the widest gender pay gap include:

• Finance and insurance: Women make 61.3% of what men do
• Professional, scientific, and technical services: Women make 72.1% of what men do
• Management of companies and enterprises: Women make 72.5% of what men do

Some of the specific positions that women earn the least in compared to men are:

• Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents (55.1% of what men earn)
• Other financial clerks (58.6% of what men earn)
• Cardiovascular technologists and technicians (61.3% of what men earn)

Conversely, industries with the smallest gender pay gap are:

• Construction: Women make 96.4% of what men do
• Mining and oil/gas extraction: Women make 95.4% of what men do
• Real estate, rental, and leasing: Women make 92.4% of what men do

The jobs that women make the most compared to men include:

• Tutoring (135% of what men earn)
• Personal care/service workers (114% of what men earn)
• Interior designers (107.9% of what men earn)

Occupational segregation is also widespread and certainly plays a role in the wage gap. This is when people of different genders or races are under or over-represented in a certain industry or position. Generally, fields and jobs that are male-dominated tend to pay more than those that are female-dominated.

Take the ecommerce industry, for example. Only 31.7% of the executive roles in the industry are held by women, and they’re also under-represented in other key decision-making positions, such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Tech is another male-dominated field, with a 64% male workforce. In addition to making up a larger part of the industry, men in tech are also paid $85,000 on average, compared to only $60,828 for women. While this is the average, there are plenty of useful career tips for women looking to enter or advance in the tech industry that can help increase their earning potential.

The US Gender Pay Gap Based on Level of Qualification

Of course, the qualifications, level of educational attainment, and work experience a person has will impact how much they earn. However, there’s still a wage gap at all levels of education and experience. In fact, gaining higher education doesn’t close the gap at all:

• No high school diploma: Women earn 83% of what men do
• High school diploma: Women earn 81% of what men do
• Associates degree/some college: Women earn 81% of what men do
• Bachelor’s degree: Women earn 79% of what men do

Figures also indicate that women with similar work experience to men get paid less. For instance, women in entry-level positions are paid 18.4% less than men. The disparity is even greater among executives, as women working at the executive level earn 27% less than their male counterparts.

The US Gender Pay Gap Based on Ethnicity

Gender wage gaps also vary based on ethnicity. While most women earn less than men, Black women and Hispanic women earn the least on average, at 69.1% and 57.5% of what men earn, respectively.

White women earn 80% of what men do, whereas Pacific Islanders earn 59% to 73%, depending on the island or territory their family originates from. This includes:

• 59% for Tongan women
• 62% for Hawaiian women
• 63% for Samoan women
• 66% for Chamorro women
• 73% for Fijian women

Asian women have the smallest wage gap of all, as they earn 98.6% of the income men do.

Conclusion

These gender pay gap statistics in the US show that despite working more than ever and seeking post-secondary education at a higher rate, women are still paid 16% less than men. While the gap has shrunk over the last few decades, it’s only been by 8%. Factors like location, ethnicity, industry, age, and qualifications help determine the exact wage gap.

Businesses should invest in strong performance management software to help ensure their workforce is paid according to how much they contribute to the company and colleagues, rather than factors such as race, age and location. Having a robust payroll system in place is also critical to ensure full oversight of what employees earn.

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