Although women’s participation in the workforce has increased considerably over the past 70 years, a gender pay gap still exists. On average, a woman earns 81 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Pay gaps are larger in some industries and occupations than in others. For example, women in legal occupations earn just 55 cents per dollar earned by male counterparts. And in healthcare occupations, women only earn 65 cents for each dollar earned by men. As for industry, finance and insurance has the largest pay gap, with women only earning 59 cents for each dollar earned by men.
The gender pay gap also varies greatly by location. Some states and cities have larger gaps than others. A recent study published by Self Financial reveals which metro areas have the largest gender pay gaps.
Large Metro Areas with the Biggest Gender Pay Gaps
The ten metro areas listed below have the greatest gender pay gaps for large metro areas.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (72.7%*)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $70,559
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $97,075
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Finance and insurance
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Sales and related occupations
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (74%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $44,694
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $60,385
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Legal occupations
Salt Lake City, UT (74.7%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $41,816
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $55,974
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Law enforcement workers including supervisors
St. Louis, MO (75%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $44,670
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $59,521
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Finance and insurance
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Firefighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (76.1%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $57,085
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $74,999
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Management of companies and enterprises
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Legal occupations
Pittsburgh, PA (76.3%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $45,496
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $59,601
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Management of companies and enterprises
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Legal occupations
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN (76.5%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $42,098
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $55,064
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Management of companies and enterprises
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Legal occupations
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA (77.2%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $42,033
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $54,415
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Information
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Legal occupations
Oklahoma City, OK (77.3%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $39,697
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $51,370
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Firefighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors
New Orleans-Metairie, LA (78.3%)
- Median annual earnings for full-time women: $40,361
- Median annual earnings for full-time men: $51,549
- Industry with the largest wage gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Occupation with the largest wage gap: Transportation occupations
*Women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s
Mid-Size Metro Areas with Biggest Gender Pay Gaps
- Provo-Orem, UT (60%*)
- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX (62.3%)
- Ogden-Clearfield, UT (65.7%)
- Lafayette, LA (65.9%)
- Baton Rouge, LA (67.3%)
- Huntsville, AL (68.7%)
- Flint, MI (69.4%)
- Fort Collins, CO (71.5%)
- Killeen-Temple, TX (71.8%)
- Canton-Massillon, OH (73.4%)
*Women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s
Small Metro Areas with Biggest Gender Pay Gaps
- Lake Charles, LA (54.1%*)
- Midland, TX (57.9%)
- Houma-Thibodaux, LA (59.9%)
- San Angelo, TX (61.4%)
- Decatur, AL (62.8%)
- The Villages, FL (63%)
- Michigan City-La Porte, IN (63.1%)
- Mansfield, OH (63.3%)
- Lubbock, TX (64.1%)
- Alexandria, LA (65%)
*Women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s
Metro areas were grouped into small, midsize and large based on population:
- Small metros: 100,000–350,000
- Midsize metros: 350,000–1,000,000
- Large metros: more than 1,000,000
See the full study and research methodology here: https://www.self.inc/blog/cities-with-biggest-gender-pay-gap