United States gender pay gap statistics
In United States, the population consists of 163.21 million males (49.50%) and 166.52 million females (50.50%), a breakdown further detailed in United States population by gender.
With a gender ratio of 98:100 i.e. 98 men to 100 women (0.980), United States hosts fewer men than women. This demographic distribution sets the backdrop for our exploration into gender-based income disparities within the area.
Historically, addressing gender-based pay differences has been a pressing concern, prompting substantial efforts not only from government initiatives but also from advocacy groups, businesses, and social movements. To explore this further within the context of United States, our analysis will focus on examining the income data to understand the reality of gender-based pay differences.
Here are the key findings from our analysis:
- All workers, aged 15 years and older: In United States, the median income for all workers aged 15 years and older, regardless of work hours, was $46,036 for males and $31,298 for females.
These income figures highlight a substantial gender-based income gap in United States. Women, regardless of work hours, earn 68 cents for each dollar earned by men. This significant gender pay gap, approximately 32%, underscores concerning gender-based income inequality in the country of United States.
- Full-time workers, aged 15 years and older: In United States, among full-time, year-round workers aged 15 years and older, males earned a median income of $64,040, while females earned $52,409, leading to a 18% gender pay gap among full-time workers. This illustrates that women earn 82 cents for each dollar earned by men in full-time roles. This analysis indicates a widening gender pay gap, showing a substantial income disparity where women, despite working full-time, face a more significant wage discrepancy compared to men in the same roles.
Surprisingly, the gender pay gap percentage was higher across all roles, including non-full-time employment, for women compared to men. This suggests that full-time employment offers a more equitable income scenario for women compared to other employment patterns in United States.
To visualize the evolving trend, here is a line chart depicting the changes in gender-specific annual median incomes over time in United States, encompassing both full-time and all workers aged 15 years and older.
United States gender and employment-based income distribution analysis (Ages 15+)
To gain insights into gender-based income distribution within the United States population, we conducted an analysis across 20 distinct brackets for males and females aged 15 years and over, covering both full-time year-round workers and other employment designations.
Within United States, among individuals aged 15 years and older with income, there were 120.93 million men and 118.44 million women in the workforce. Among them, 67.70 million men were engaged in full-time, year-round employment, while 51.47 million women were in full-time, year-round roles.
Analyzing the percentage of full-time, year-round workers to the total workforce reveals that among men, the proportion of full-time employment was 55.99%, whereas among women, the ratio was 43.46%. This indicates that a higher percentage of men were engaged in full-time, year-round roles compared to women.
The observed disparity may stem from various factors such as industry choices, societal expectations, or employment opportunities, revealing potential gender-based variations in employment trends within United States.
Parenthood, for instance, is one such factor influencing these trends. Women between 25 and 44 years old who are mothers are less inclined to participate in the workforce compared to women of the same age without children at home. Furthermore, when employed, these mothers often work fewer hours per week, adding to the observed disparities in full-time employment between genders.
United States annual income distribution by work experience and sex (Ages 15+ with income)
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of the count of individuals within distinct income brackets, categorizing them by gender (men and women) and employment type - full-time1 (FT) and part-time2 (PT), offering valuable insights into the diverse income landscapes within United States
| Income Bracket | Full-Time Males | Part-Time Males | Full-Time Females | Part-Time Females |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 to $2,499 or loss | 119,155 | 4,406,564 | 80,354 | 5,978,447 |
| $2,500 to $4,999 | 83,608 | 2,872,727 | 87,458 | 3,997,565 |
| $5,000 to $7,499 | 393,072 | 2,794,222 | 400,010 | 4,344,407 |
| $7,500 to $9,999 | 261,156 | 2,563,744 | 281,208 | 4,460,165 |
| $10,000 to $12,499 | 601,887 | 3,858,615 | 597,920 | 6,528,282 |
| $12,500 to $14,999 | 406,399 | 2,667,529 | 488,025 | 4,634,617 |
| $15,000 to $17,499 | 635,795 | 2,687,462 | 752,587 | 4,243,003 |
| $17,500 to $19,999 | 513,624 | 2,070,895 | 657,170 | 3,174,114 |
| $20,000 to $22,499 | 1,346,717 | 2,522,842 | 1,466,439 | 3,541,133 |
| $22,500 to $24,999 | 894,227 | 1,798,881 | 1,071,050 | 2,462,359 |
| $25,000 to $29,999 | 2,826,248 | 3,475,421 | 3,063,330 | 4,391,695 |
| $30,000 to $34,999 | 4,119,944 | 2,899,680 | 4,117,699 | 3,468,813 |
| $35,000 to $39,999 | 3,720,471 | 2,262,517 | 3,721,995 | 2,512,599 |
| $40,000 to $44,999 | 4,471,850 | 2,080,234 | 4,052,278 | 2,104,371 |
| $45,000 to $49,999 | 3,281,166 | 1,637,827 | 3,040,768 | 1,565,442 |
| $50,000 to $54,999 | 4,454,532 | 1,661,050 | 3,474,322 | 1,533,235 |
| $55,000 to $64,999 | 6,416,297 | 2,392,946 | 5,048,713 | 2,113,409 |
| $65,000 to $74,999 | 5,052,393 | 1,729,930 | 3,793,937 | 1,432,179 |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 9,532,571 | 2,763,637 | 6,481,515 | 2,065,474 |
| $100,000 or more | 18,573,584 | 4,073,727 | 8,795,361 | 2,420,594 |
To provide a more comprehensive understanding of income distribution, we have grouped the original income brackets into five broader categories for analysis purposes: Under $24,999, $25,000 to $49,999, $50,000 to $74,999, $75,000 to $99,999, and above $100,000. This grouping allows for a more focused assessment of income disparities across distinct income ranges, offering clearer insights into gender-based income distributions within the United States population.
The analysis unveiled the following key findings:
- Annual income under $24,999: Of the male population working full-time, 7.76% fell within the income range of under $24,999, while 11.43% of the female population working full-time was represented in the same income bracket. Additionally, among individuals in other non-full-time employment categories, 53.07% of males and 64.75% of females were found within this income range.
In total, among the population aged 15 years and older with income, across all employment categories, the analysis revealed that 27.70% of the entire male population and 41.58% of the entire female population fell within the income bracket of under $24,999.
A higher percentage of females compared to males falling within the under $24,999 income bucket suggests a potential disparity, indicating a greater concentration of women in this lower income range.
- Annual income between $25,000 and $49,999: 27.21% of males in full-time employment were within the $25,000 to $49,999 income range, while 34.96% of females in full-time roles were represented in this income bracket. Moreover, among other employment categories, 23.22% of males and 20.97% of females fell into this income range.
Considering the population aged 15 years and older with income across all employments, 25.45% of the total male population and 27.05% of the total female population were encompassed within this income bracket.
The higher representation of females compared to males in the $25,000 to $49,999 income bracket indicates a potential inequality, emphasizing a greater prevalence of women within this lower-middle income range.
- Annual income between $50,000 and $74,999: 23.52% of men in full-time employment fell within the $50,000 to $74,999 income bracket, while 23.93% of women in full-time positions were also within this income range. Furthermore, among individuals in other non-full-time employment categories, 10.87% of men and 7.58% of women were situated within this specific income bracket.
Overall, considering the entire population aged 15 years and older with income across all job types, 17.95% of the total male population and 14.69% of the total female population were found within the $50,000 to $74,999 income bracket.
The higher proportion of males compared to females in the $50,000 to $74,999 income bracket suggests a potential inequality, emphasizing a greater prevalence of men within this middle-income range.
- Annual income between $75,000 and $99,999: 14.08% of men in full-time roles occupied the $75,000 to $99,999 income bracket, while 12.59% of women in full-time positions shared this income range. Additionally, among individuals in other non-full-time employment categories, 5.19% of men and 3.08% of women were situated within this specific income bracket.
In total, among the entire population aged 15 years and older with income across all job types, 10.17% of the total male population and 7.22% of the total female population fell within the $75,000 to $99,999 income bracket.
The elevated ratio of males to females in the $75,000 to $99,999 income bracket hints at a potential inequality, underscoring a stronger predominance of men within this upper-middle income range.
- Annual income above $100,000: 27.43% of men in full-time roles earned incomes exceeding $100,000, while 17.09% of women in full-time positions earned within this income bracket. Additionally, among those in alternative non-full-time employment, 7.65% of men and 3.61% of women earned within this income bracket.
In total, across the entire population aged 15 years and older with income across all job types, 18.73% of the total male population and 9.47% of the total female population earned incomes above $100,000.
The increased proportion of males compared to females in the above $100,000 income bracket suggests a potential inequality, emphasizing a greater predominance of men in this higher income range.
