What Is the Pay Gap?

Multiple pay gaps exist in the United States, but the most commonly referenced pay gap is between men and women.

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Edited by other Updated Sep 8, 2025 Updated on Sept. 8. Updated on Sept. 8. A pay gap is the difference between the earnings of one group and another. It’s usually referenced in the context of men’s wages versus women’s wages. But there are also pay gaps when measured by race and ethnicity, as well as sexuality and gender identity. There are shorthands for the most stark differences among workers: Gender pay gap: Men earn more than women. Gender pay gap: Education pay gap: Those with college degrees earn more than those with lower educational attainment. Education pay gap: Parent pay gap: For women, having children widens the wage gap, especially for those with higher education, according to a 2024 report by the U.S. Census Bureau. Parent pay gap: Parent pay gap: Racial pay gap: White and Asian workers earn more than Black, Hispanic, multiracial and Native American/Native Alaskan workers. Racial pay gap: LGBTQ+ gender or gender identity pay gap: The “typical worker” earns more than LGBTQ+ workers, especially trans men and women. LGBTQ+ gender or gender identity pay gap: » MORE: Survey: Women’s finances more precarious than men’s » MORE: Here’s a deeper look at the pay disparities outlined above.

What is the gender pay gap?

What is the gender pay gap? Women consistently bring home less money than men: In 2023, women earned 84 cents to every dollar men earned, according to a report by the Census Bureau released in 2024. And that gap hasn’t budged in about 20 years, according to Pew Research Center. » MORE: These 10 cities have the highest minimum wage in the U.S. » MORE:

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Among men and women who worked full time, year-round in 2022, the national median earnings wage gap was $9,990, with men earning a median of $62,350 and women earning a median of $52,360. » MORE: What is pay transparency and which states require it? » MORE: The wage gap widens when you look at each state individually. The states with the largest median wage gap between men and women include: Utah: $25,028 New Hampshire: $18,821 Washington: $18,757 Wyoming: $18,318 Massachusetts: $17,884 The states where the smallest median wage gaps between men and women include: Vermont: $7,459 New Mexico: $8.717 Nevada: $9,239 Arizona: $11,218 Maine: $11,273

What is the gender pay gap in your state?

» MORE: 2024 cost of raising children report » MORE:

Gender pay gap by education level

A gender pay gap also exists for women at lower levels of education. Among workers with less than a high school diploma, women earned $0.66 for every dollar earned by men, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. » MORE: Current unemployment rate » MORE: Here are the most recent median earnings differences by degree, according to gender, as compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics. Wage inequities are stark when broken down by race or ethnicity, Department of Labor data shows. When compared with every dollar earned by white workers: Hispanic/Latino workers earn 73 cents. Black workers earn 76 cents. Native American/American Indian workers earn 77 cents. Multiracial workers earn 81 cents. Asian-Pacific Islander workers earn $1.12.

What is the gender racial wage gap?

The gender pay gap is exacerbated further by the racial wage gap, according to data by the Government Accountability Office. When compared with every dollar earned by white men: Hispanic/Latina women earn 58 cents. Black women earn 63 cents. White women earn 79 cents. Asian women earn 97 cents. » MORE: What is the minimum wage? » MORE:

What is the LGBTQ+ gender or gender identity pay gap?

What is the LGBTQ+ gender or gender identity pay gap? Gender and gender identity among LGBTQ+ workers also tends to affect earnings, according to a 2021 analysis of salary data by the Human Rights Campaign. LGBTQ+ workers tend to earn 90 cents for every dollar a typical worker (as in, full-time private and public sector nonfarm workers). According to the Human Rights Campaign data, when compared with every dollar earned by a typical worker: Men in the LGBTQ+ community earn 96 cents. Women in the LGBTQ+ community earn 87 cents. Nonbinary, genderqueer, genderfluid and two-spirit workers earn 70 cents. Trans men earn 70 cents. Trans women earn 60 cents. » MORE: What is the minimum wage for tipped employees? » MORE: (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images News via Getty Images) (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images News via Getty Images) Explore more on About the author Helhoski Anna Helhoski is a senior writer covering economic news and trends in consumer finance at NerdWallet. She is an on-air contributor and producer of Money News segments for NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast. She is also an authority on student loans. She joined NerdWallet in 2014. Her work has been syndicated in news outlets nationwide including The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and USA Today. She previously covered local news in the New York metro area for the Daily Voice and New York state politics for The Legislative Gazette. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Purchase College, State University of New York. Published in How to Pay Off Debt: Top Strategies for 2026 Credit Score Ranges: What They Mean and How They Work How to Budget Money in 5 Steps 28 Proven Ways to Save Money Get Your Free Credit Score By NerdWallet How to Pay Off Debt: Top Strategies for 2026 By Lauren Schwahn, Jackie Veling 50/30/20 Budget Calculator By Amanda Barroso, Elizabeth Ayoola