• FREE RESOURCES
        • Creating a Legally Sound Remote Work Policy: The 5 Biggest Pitfalls to Avoid
          Creating a Legally Sound Remote Work Policy: The 5 Biggest Pitfalls to Avoid
          Employment Law
          FMLA Cheat Sheet: A Handy At-A-Glance Guide
          HR Career & Self-Care
          Lead Magnet: 110 Traits of Highly Effective HR Pros
          11 Traits of Highly Effective HR Pros
          Recruiting
          New Employee Checklist
          Recruiting
          How to Write a Job Description Worksheet
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR

  • LOGIN
  • SIGN UP FREE

HR Morning

  • FREE RESOURCES
        • Creating a Legally Sound Remote Work Policy: The 5 Biggest Pitfalls to Avoid
          Creating a Legally Sound Remote Work Policy: The 5 Biggest Pitfalls to Avoid
          Employment Law
          FMLA Cheat Sheet: A Handy At-A-Glance Guide
          HR Career & Self-Care
          Lead Magnet: 110 Traits of Highly Effective HR Pros
          11 Traits of Highly Effective HR Pros
          Recruiting
          New Employee Checklist
          Recruiting
          How to Write a Job Description Worksheet
  • PREMIUM CONTENT
        • SEE MORE
          PREMIUM RESOURCES
  • HR DEEP DIVES
  • CORONAVIRUS & HR
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • Performance Management
  • HR Technology
  • More
    • Leadership & Strategy
    • Compensation
    • Staff Administration
    • Policy & Procedures
    • Wellness
    • Staff Departure
    • Employee Services
    • Work Location
    • HR Career & Self-Care
    • Health Care
    • Retirement Plans

Women gain in wages, but still trail men

Jim Giuliano
by Jim Giuliano
August 12, 2009
1 minute read
  • SHARE ON

In the last 10 years, women’s wages, as a percentage of men’s, have increased in most age groups, but women in some groups have done better than others.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics produced data showing in 2008, women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median weekly earnings that were about 80% of the median for their male counterparts. Median weekly wages were $638 for women, $798 for men. In 1979,  women earned about 62% of what men made.
Here’s a percentage comparison to men between ’79 and ’08, by typical age groups in the workforce:

  • Age 20-24: ’79 — women made 61% of what men made; ’08 — women made 80% of what men made
  • 25-34: ’79 — 68%; ’08 — 88%
  • 35-44: ’79 — 58%; ’08 — 77%
  • 45-54: ’79 — 57%; ’08 — 77%
  • 55-64: ’79 — 60%; ’08 — 78%

Clearly, women who work in in entry-level positions that typically go to workers under age 25 come the closest — 88% — to equaling the pay of their male counterparts. In most other age groups, women make about three-quarters of what male counterparts make.
Apart from the cold numbers, there’s the big question: Even with the gains, women still make less. Why?
Some of course will point to sex discrimination. Others will say it’s because women more often than men drop out in mid- or early-career to raise children, and then have to play catch-up later on.
For whatever reason, the gap exists.
To see the full BLS report, “Highlights of Women’s Earnings 2008,” go here.

Get the latest from HRMorning in your inbox PLUS immediately access 10 FREE HR guides.

I WANT MY FREE GUIDES

Keep Up To Date with the Latest HR News

With HRMorning arriving in your inbox, you will never miss critical stories on labor laws, benefits, retention and onboarding strategies.

Sign up for a free HRMorning membership and get our newsletter!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
HR Morning Logo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked In
  • ABOUT HRMORNING
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • WRITE FOR US
  • CONTACT
  • Employment Law
  • Benefits
  • Recruiting
  • Talent Management
  • Performance Management
  • HR Technology
  • Leadership & Strategy
  • Compensation
  • Staff Administration
  • Policy & Procedures
  • Wellness
  • Staff Departure
  • Employee Services
  • Work Location
  • HR Career & Self-Care
  • Health Care
  • Retirement Plans

HRMorning, part of the SuccessFuel Network, provides the latest HR and employment law news for HR professionals in the trenches of small-to-medium-sized businesses. Rather than simply regurgitating the day’s headlines, HRMorning delivers actionable insights, helping HR execs understand what HR trends mean to their business.

Privacy Policy Terms of Service
Copyright © 2022 SuccessFuel

WELCOME BACK!

Enter your username and password below to log in

Forget Your Username or Password?

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

Log In

During your free trial, you can cancel at any time with a single click on your “Account” page.  It’s that easy.

Why do we need your credit card for a free trial?

We ask for your credit card to allow your subscription to continue should you decide to keep your membership beyond the free trial period.  This prevents any interruption of content access.

Your card will not be charged at any point during your 21 day free trial
and you may cancel at any time during your free trial.

preloader