Salary Gap Lowest in Office & Administration Occupations; Highest in Legal Occupations

In a recent article, Headlight Data looked at the difference between male and female unemployment in large metros. About 60% of large metros have higher female than male unemployment. Another facet of the gender equity discussion is salary levels.

Across all occupations, male annual salaries are on average 42% higher than female salaries. The US average salary for women in 2014 was $28,300 compared with $40,200 for men.

The occupational group with the smallest difference in male and female earnings is Office & Administrative Support Occupations ($1,800 difference in 2014 median earnings). Community & Social Services ($3,100 difference), Healthcare Support ($3,300 difference) and Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations ($3,600 difference) followed.

The occupational group with the largest difference in male and female earnings is Legal Occupations where males earn $107,700 on average while females earn $56,600 – a difference of $51,100. Health Diagnosing & Treatment Practitioners Occupations ($37,900 difference) and Management Occupations ($22,000 difference) followed.

Research, analysis and content developed by Headlight Data. Original data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

About Headlight Data:

Headlight Data is an award-winning online data aggregator, designed for economic and workforce development organizations, that provides online, decision-support tools on the economy, demographics, education, workforce and public policy.