The Persisting Gender Gap in Weekly Earnings

A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that the median weekly earnings of the nation’s 121.5 million full-time wage and salary workers were $1,100 in the second quarter of 2023. But there is a persisting gender gap in earnings.

Women had median weekly earnings of $993, or 84.1 percent of the $1,181 median for men. The women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio varied by race and ethnicity. White women earned 84.6 percent as much as their male counterparts, compared with 89.9 percent for Black women, 81.0 percent for Asian women, and 88.3 percent for Hispanic women.

By age, usual weekly earnings were highest for men ages 35 to 64: median weekly earnings were $1,319 for men ages 35 to 44, $1,385 for men ages 45 to 54, and $1,341 for men ages 55 to 64. Among women, usual weekly earnings were also highest for workers ages 35 to 64: median weekly earnings were $1,134 for women ages 35 to 44, $1,095 for women ages 45 to 54, and $1,043 for women ages 55 to 64.

Men and women ages 16 to 24 had the lowest median weekly earnings, $714 and $672, respectively. Men’s and women’s earnings were closer among younger workers than older workers; for example, women ages 16 to 24 earned 94.1 percent as much as men in the same age group, while the women’s-to-men’s earnings ratio was 79.6 percent for those age 55 and over.