Still lagging: Women’s Earnings in America

STILL LAGGING: WOMEN'S EARNINGS IN AMERICA HOW WOMEN IN AMERICA ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR HIGHER PAY Women may have bridged the gender gap in education and employment, but when it comes to getting paid, the fact remains that they still earn less than their male counterparts. Here, we look at one factor that typically plays a role in one's career and compensation: education. MEN MAKE MORE THAN WOMEN WOMEN I MEN EARNINGS BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT THE MAJORITY OF COLLEGE DEGREE HOLDERS ARE WOMEN $1500 Of the 61.4 million Americans who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher in 2009, 51.3% WERE WOMEN, and 48.7% were men. On average, 28% OF BOTH WOMEN AND MEN $1200 $900 over the age of 19 have earned at least a college degree. That's up considerably from 8% and 14% in 1970, respectively. $600 $300 $0 Some college or associate's degree Less than a Bachelor's High school, no college high school diploma degree or higher Women's earnings as percentage of men's 76.4% 75.7% 75.4% 73.1% 28% 28% 14% 1970 Today 1970 Today EARNINGS BY MARITAL STATUS EARNINGS BY AGE GROUP $1500 $1500 $1200 $1200 $900 $900 $600 $600 $300 $300 $0 $0 Never Married, Divorced Separated Widowed Total, 16 to 19 20 to 24 35 to 44 55 to 64 65 years 25 to 34 45 to 54 Spouse present Married 16 years years years years years years years and older and older 00000 Women's Women's earnings as percentage of men's earnings as percentage of men's 94.9% 75.6% 84.5% 86.4% 79.5% 80.2% 90.7% 92.9% 88.7% 77.4% 73.6% 75.3% 76.1% EQUAL PAY EARNINGS BY UNION AFFILIATION EARNINGS BY RACE $1500 $1500 $1200 $1200 $900 $900 $600 $600 $300 $300 $0 $0 White Black or African American Asian Hispanic or Latino Members of Unions Not Represented by a Union Women's Women's earnings as percentage of men's earnings as percentage of men's 87.8% 79.9% 79.2% 93.7% 81.8% 89.5% MORE WOMEN LIVE IN POVERTY THAN MEN Not only is the overall percentage of people living below the poverty line in the United States on the rise: the percentage of impoverished women has consistently outnumbered men over the past decade. 20% 15.6% 15% 13.0% 10% 5% 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 mint.com Sources: census.gov I whitehouse.gov Median Weekly Earnings Median Weekly Earnings Median Weekly Earnings Percentage living below the poverty line Median Weekly Earnings Median Weekly Earnings