Writer: Lucy Lazarony
Editor: Ashley Fricker
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Pay equality for women is a noble goal. Earning the same amount of money as male workers would be both fair and ideal. But as things stand, there is a gender pay gap. It may vary by state, race, or the age of the women working, but American women typically earn less than their male counterparts.
The gender pay gap is also a global phenomenon, with working women around the world earning less than men for the same work. Some countries are close to achieving pay equality while others, including the U.S., lag behind.
Here are 20 surprising statistics about the gender pay gap.
1. American Women Earn an Average of 85% of What Men Earn
The gender pay gap has narrowed by a slight margin in the past 20 years. In 2003, women workers earned just 81% of the earnings of male workers1. In 2024, women workers earned 85% of what male workers earned, a 4% increase.
2. Younger Women Earn 95 Cents For Every Dollar Men Earned
One age group is making strides when it comes to bridging the gender pay gap. Women aged 25 to 34 had only a 5-cent pay gap compared with male workers in their same age group1.
3. The Gender Pay Gap for All Women Was 35 Cents in 1982
It wasn’t that long ago that women made 65 cents for every dollar earned by men.1 The current gender pay gap of women earning 85 cents for every dollar earned by men looks good in comparison.
4. 50% Say Women Are Treated Differently by Employers
Half of American adults believe women being treated differently by employers is the major reason for women earning less than men1. They rest the blame with employers who are choosing to pay women workers less than their male counterparts.
5. American Women’s Lost Earnings Climb to More than $1 Trillion
The cumulative effect of the gender pay gap is startling. For the about 80 million working women in America, their lost earnings from the gender pay gap reached $1.1 trillion in just one year.2 And over their careers, women earn $86.4 trillion less than men.2
6. Mothers Earn 74 Cents For Every Dollar Earned by Men
Working women who have children or are primary caregivers earn just 74 cents for every dollar earned by men.2 These women are juggling personal responsibilities at home and are earning less in their workplaces.
7. Women Worldwide Earn 77 Cents For Every Dollar Earned by Men
The global gender pay gap, 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, is a serious issue and one that may take many years to change.3 One estimate suggests that, at the present rate of progress, it will take 134 years for women worldwide to be paid the same as men.3
8. Iceland Has Closed 90% of Its Gender Pay Gap
Nordic countries are taking the lead when it comes to narrowing the gender pay gap, with the small country of Iceland at the top, at only 10%.3 This is an example of a small country moving forward on an important social issue.
9. In Africa, Gender Pay Gaps Reach Up to 30%
The gender pay gap varies from nation to nation, and this includes the continent of Africa. In some African nations, women earn much less than African men. They earn as little as 70% of what African men earn.3
10. South Korea Has a Gender Pay Gap of 31.2%
South Korea is another nation where women earn significantly less than men. Its 31.2% gender pay gap means women earn just over 70% of what men in South Korea earn.3
11. Some European Union Countries Have Gender Pay Gaps Less than 5%
EU countries such as Luxembourg, Romania, Slovenia, Poland, Belgium, and Italy have gender pay gaps under 5%.3
But it is a different story in other EU countries where larger gender pay gaps exist. Hungary, Germany, Austria, and Estonia have gender pay gaps that are more than 17%.3
12. Australian Women Earn 83% of Men’s Earnings
In Australia, working women’s earnings on average are 83% of men’s earnings, and this gender pay gap of 17% has changed little over the past decade.3
13. Black Women Earn 64 Cents for Every Dollar Earned by Men
When considering race and ethnicity, the gender pay gap results are striking. In America, Black women were paid just 64 cents for every dollar paid to White, non-Hispanic men.4 Also in America, Latina women were paid only 60 cents for every dollar paid to White, non-Hispanic men.4
14. Women in Vermont Earn 93 Cents For Every Dollar Earned by Men
In America, the gender pay gap varies by state. Women in Vermont are the closest to attaining pay equality with men. Women in Oklahoma are the farthest away from this goal. Oklahoma women earn just 76 cents for every dollar earned by men.5
15. American Women Earn $244 Less Per Week Than Men
In the second quarter of 2026, men working full time had median weekly earnings of $1,380 compared with $1,136 for women who also worked full time.5
16. In the U.S., the Controlled Gender Pay Gap is just 1%
When considering job title, education, experience, and industry, working women earn 99 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts.2
17. Men Make $136,388 a Year in Securities and Commodities While Women Make $75,096
Securities, commodities, and financial service jobs have the largest pay gaps between genders. Women earn $61,292 less than men for the same work.6 Financial clerk jobs come in second for gender pay gaps, with women earning an average of just $51,929 and men earning $88,556 for doing the same work.7
18. Women Earn 74.1% of What Men Make in Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance
Among major occupation groups, natural resources, construction, and maintenance jobs have the widest gender pay gaps, with women earning 74.1% of what men earn.8 Coming in second are production, transportation, and material moving occupations, with women earning 74.9% of what men earn for the same work.8
19. Women Earn 87.5% of What Men Make in Computer, Engineering, and Science Jobs
And in education, legal, community service, arts, and media, women earn 83% of what their male counterparts earn.8 Women earn 79.4% of what men make when working in management, business, and financial jobs.8
20. College-Educated Women Who Have Children Earn 47 Cents For Every Dollar Earned by Men
Women with children who have a bachelor’s degree from a top-rated school earn just 47 cents for every dollar earned by men.9 In contrast, women without children who have a bachelor’s degree from a top-rated school earn 80.3 cents for every dollar earned by men for doing the same work.9
The Gender Pay Gap is Likely to Exist For a Long While
How long will the gender pay gap last? Countries such as Iceland are close to achieving pay equality, but many other countries are farther behind, sometimes much farther behind.
According to one estimate, it will take women worldwide 134 years to achieve pay equality with men. Let’s hope it happens sooner.
Data Sources
1. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/04/gender-pay-gap-in-us-has- narrowed-slightly-over-2-decades/
2. https://www.payscale.com/featured-content/gender-pay-gap
3. https://www.equalpaytoday.org/gender-pay-gap-statistics
4. https://nwlc.org/resource/nwlc-resources-on-poverty-income-and-health-insurance
5. https://usafacts.org/answers/what-is-the-gender-pay-gap-in-the-us/country/united-states/
6. https://qz.com/industries-jobs-biggest-gender-pay-gaps-men-women-1851733184#1-securitiescommodities-and-financial-services-sales-agents
7. https://qz.com/industries-jobs-biggest-gender-pay-gaps-men-women-1851733184#2-financial-clerks
8. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/equal-pay-day.html
9. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/02/gender-wage-gap-education.html
