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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 693-4650
Today's report documents the large earnings gap that still
exists between women and men. While women's earnings as a percent of men's
earnings have risen substantially from 62.5 percent in 1979 to 76.5 percent in
1999 an earnings gap persists.
The pay gap is worse for black and Hispanic women and their
earnings have grown very little. Black and Hispanic women receive just 64 and
55 cents, respectively, to every dollar earned by white men.
More women are working in occupations that pay well, but
even within those occupations they still make less than men. The pay gaps are
as wide as 38 percent for women physicians. In each of the top 10 occupations
with the highest earnings for women, there is at least a 9.5 percent pay gap.
(See attached chart).
Wage discrimination remains an unfortunate reality for many
women. The pay gap is not just a women's issue, it's a family issue. When women
bring home less money, it affects the family. It's about food on the table and
clothing for the kids. Equal pay matters, and we need to do everything we can
to close this lingering pay gap.
| Top Ten Occupations with the
Highest Earnings for Women |
| |
Median Weekly
Earnings, 1999 |
Earnings Gap
btwn Women & Men |
% Women
in Occupation |
| 1. Pharmacists |
$1,105 |
9.5% |
46.7% |
| 2. Lawyers |
$974 |
27.3% |
33.1% |
| 3. Engineers |
$933 |
11.8% |
10.1% |
| 4. Computer systems analysts and scientists |
$907 |
16.0% |
28.9% |
| 5. Teachers--college and university |
$859 |
17.3% |
37.8% |
| 6. Physicians |
$852 |
37.6% |
27.2% |
| 7. Administrators-- education and related fields |
$819 |
23.8% |
59.7% |
| 8. Physical therapists |
$808 |
not available |
67.4% |
| 9. Managers-- marketing, advertising, public
relations |
$800 |
35.6% |
36.5% |
| 10. Management analysts |
$790 |
26.8% |
48.4% |
| |
| Source: BLS, Highlights of Women's
Earnings in 1999, Table 3
Note: Data are for full- time wage and salary
workers. |
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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