It’s Equal Pay Day. Check The Pay Gap in Your State!

The Gender Pay Gap – A Nationwide Problem

For decades, women have been fighting for equal pay in the workplace. The gender pay gap, which is the difference between the average earnings of men and women, is a nationwide problem that affects women in every industry and at every level of education and experience.

The Equal Pay Act of 1963

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was enacted to address this issue. It prohibits employers from paying men and women different wages for the same work and requires employers to provide equal pay for equal work. Despite the Equal Pay Act, the gender pay gap still exists, and women continue to earn less than men on average.

The Wage Gap in Your State

On Equal Pay Day, it’s important to take a closer look at the wage gap in your state. The National Women’s Law Center has identified that the median annual earnings of full-time, year-round women workers in the United States are $45,097, while the median annual earnings of full-time, year-round men workers are $55,291. This means women earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2022.

The Worst States for the Gender Pay Gap

Unfortunately, not all states are equal when it comes to pay equity. According to the National Women’s Law Center, these are the states with the biggest gender pay gap:

• Utah: Women earn just 70 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• Wyoming: Women earn just 73 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• Louisiana: Women earn just 74 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• West Virginia: Women earn just 75 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• Idaho: Women earn just 76 cents for every dollar earned by men.

The States with the Smallest Gender Pay Gap

On the other hand, these states have the smallest gender pay gaps:

• Hawaii: Women earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• California: Women earn 88 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• Illinois: Women earn 88 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• New York: Women earn 89 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• Maryland: Women earn 90 cents for every dollar earned by men.

What Can You Do About the Gender Pay Gap?

While federal and state laws help close the gender pay gap, there are also things you can do to help. These include negotiating your salary, seeking out mentors, and advocating for equal pay in the workplace. You can also support organizations like the National Women’s Law Center, which works to close the gender pay gap.

The Fight for Pay Equity Continues

Equal Pay Day is a reminder that the fight for pay equity for women is far from over. But by raising awareness about the problem and taking steps to address it, we can make progress towards closing the gender pay gap once and for all.