President John F. Kennedy in 1963 signed into law the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits wage discrimination on the basis of gender. While progress has been made in the years since, now, over half a century later, the median annual salary for women working full-time in the United States is $41,512 — about $10,000 less than the salary for men.
The Equal Pay Act’s failure to close the gender pay gap is telling. Income inequality is a complex problem with causes that cannot simply be legislated away.
Some of these causes are social and cultural. For example, women tend to work fewer hours than men due in no small part to traditional gender roles regarding household duties, like child rearing. Women are also more likely to work in lower-paying occupations in lower-paying industries than men. The differences in wages caused by such self sorting is even more pronounced in high-skill jobs that require higher educational attainment.
These factors, in addition to outright wage discrimination, all contribute to the wage gap.
The gender pay gap, however, varies from state to state. Nationwide, women earn about 81 cents for every dollar men earn. In some states, the gap is far more pronounced, with women earning less than 75 cents on the dollar. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, women earn an average of nearly 90 cents for every dollar men earn.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed women’s pay as a share of men’s pay in every state to identify the worst-paying states for women.
Click here to see the worst-paying states for women.
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: choness / Getty Images
50. California
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 88.3%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 33.4% male, 33.9% female
> Poverty rate: 12.2% male, 14.4% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (64.9% pay gap)
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Source: TomasSereda / Getty Images
49. New York
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 87.8%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 34.9% male, 37.1% female
> Poverty rate: 12.9% male, 15.2% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (45.8% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
48. Florida
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 87.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.7% male, 29.7% female
> Poverty rate: 13.0% male, 15.0% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Manufacturing (67.0% pay gap)
Source: myworldinpixels / Flickr
47. Vermont
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 86.1%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 34.6% male, 41.7% female
> Poverty rate: 10.6% male, 12.0% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (57.4% pay gap)
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Source: Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com
46. Delaware
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 85.6%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.9% male, 32.0% female
> Poverty rate: 12.0% male, 15.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Information (54.9% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
45. Maryland
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 85.4%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 38.5% male, 40.7% female
> Poverty rate: 8.4% male, 10.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (37.9% pay gap)
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Source: mdesigner125 / Getty Images
44. Arizona
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 85.1%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.5% male, 29.2% female
> Poverty rate: 13.9% male, 15.8% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (58.8% pay gap)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
43. Rhode Island
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 83.9%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 32.9% male, 34.0% female
> Poverty rate: 10.1% male, 13.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (53.9% pay gap)
Source: photoquest7 / Getty Images
42. Nevada
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 83.4%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 24.7% male, 25.1% female
> Poverty rate: 12.3% male, 13.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Manufacturing (72.5% pay gap)
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Source: Cary Academy / Facebook
41. North Carolina
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 83.2%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.2% male, 32.4% female
> Poverty rate: 13.3% male, 16.0% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (62.7% pay gap)
Source: karol m from arizona, USA / Wikimedia Commons
40. New Mexico
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 83.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 26.0% male, 28.1% female
> Poverty rate: 18.5% male, 20.8% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (52.6% pay gap)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
39. Massachusetts
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 82.9%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 42.8% male, 44.0% female
> Poverty rate: 9.2% male, 11.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (47.7% pay gap)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock
38. Georgia
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 82.5%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.9% male, 31.8% female
> Poverty rate: 13.7% male, 16.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (58.6% pay gap)
Source: jtstewartphoto / iStock
37. Maine
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 82.1%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.1% male, 34.8% female
> Poverty rate: 10.4% male, 11.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (60.4% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
36. Minnesota
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 82.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 35.1% male, 36.9% female
> Poverty rate: 8.6% male, 10.4% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (62.0% pay gap)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
35. Connecticut
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 81.9%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 37.9% male, 39.4% female
> Poverty rate: 8.6% male, 10.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (43.9% pay gap)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
34. Tennessee
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 81.7%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 26.7% male, 27.9% female
> Poverty rate: 13.5% male, 16.3% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (52.8% pay gap)
Source: icetsarina / Flickr
33. Oregon
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 81.5%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 32.9% male, 34.5% female
> Poverty rate: 12.3% male, 14.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (53.6% pay gap)
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
32. Colorado
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 81.1%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 40.6% male, 41.8% female
> Poverty rate: 9.4% male, 11.2% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (61.4% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
31. Texas
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 81.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.0% male, 30.2% female
> Poverty rate: 13.3% male, 16.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (59.7% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
30. Pennsylvania
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 80.5%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.0% male, 31.9% female
> Poverty rate: 11.2% male, 13.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (51.9% pay gap)
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Source: Eric Tessmer / Wikimedia Commons
29. Hawaii
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 79.9%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.6% male, 34.2% female
> Poverty rate: 8.6% male, 10.5% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Manufacturing (54.3% pay gap)
Source: benkrut / iStock
28. Wisconsin
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 79.7%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 28.8% male, 31.9% female
> Poverty rate: 10.1% male, 12.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (56.7% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
27. New Jersey
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 79.3%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 39.7% male, 39.8% female
> Poverty rate: 9.0% male, 10.9% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (55.7% pay gap)
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Source: afiler / Flickr
26. North Dakota
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 79.3%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 28.0% male, 33.6% female
> Poverty rate: 8.9% male, 11.9% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (55.7% pay gap)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
25. Arkansas
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.9%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 22.4% male, 24.3% female
> Poverty rate: 15.1% male, 17.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (55.8% pay gap)
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Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
24. Iowa
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.9%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.7% male, 30.1% female
> Poverty rate: 9.8% male, 11.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (54.8% pay gap)
Source: urbanglimpses / Getty Images
23. Alaska
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.7%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 25.3% male, 32.6% female
> Poverty rate: 11.0% male, 11.2% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Wholesale trade (51.3% pay gap)
Source: tomofbluesprings / iStock
22. Missouri
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.6%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 28.1% male, 30.0% female
> Poverty rate: 12.1% male, 14.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Information (67.1% pay gap)
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Source: coleong / iStock
21. New Hampshire
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.6%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 35.4% male, 38.4% female
> Poverty rate: 6.8% male, 8.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (53.3% pay gap)
Source: locosteve / Flickr
20. Montana
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.5%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.8% male, 33.8% female
> Poverty rate: 11.4% male, 13.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (51.0% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
19. Kentucky
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.2%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 22.8% male, 25.0% female
> Poverty rate: 15.8% male, 18.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (56.9% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
18. Michigan
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.2%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 28.7% male, 29.5% female
> Poverty rate: 13.1% male, 15.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (60.5% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
17. Ohio
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.6% male, 28.3% female
> Poverty rate: 12.8% male, 15.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (57.9% pay gap)
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Source: SEASTOCK / iStock
16. Washington
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 78.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 35.4% male, 35.6% female
> Poverty rate: 10.2% male, 11.8% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (57.2% pay gap)
Source: shipfactory / Shutterstock.com
15. Illinois
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 77.6%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 33.7% male, 35.1% female
> Poverty rate: 11.4% male, 13.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (58.4% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
14. Virginia
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 77.5%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 38.5% male, 38.9% female
> Poverty rate: 9.6% male, 11.6% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (58.4% pay gap)
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
13. Nebraska
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 77.1%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.4% male, 32.9% female
> Poverty rate: 9.5% male, 12.0% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (46.6% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
12. South Carolina
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 77.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.2% male, 28.7% female
> Poverty rate: 13.9% male, 16.8% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (48.0% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
11. Mississippi
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 76.9%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 20.1% male, 23.4% female
> Poverty rate: 17.5% male, 21.9% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Information (47.1% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
10. Oklahoma
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 76.8%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 24.4% male, 26.6% female
> Poverty rate: 14.5% male, 17.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (57.1% pay gap)
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Source: Sierralara / Getty Images
9. Wyoming
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 76.8%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 26.1% male, 29.2% female
> Poverty rate: 10.5% male, 12.2% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (36.6% pay gap)
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Source: JMichl / Getty Images
8. South Dakota
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 76.5%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.3% male, 29.0% female
> Poverty rate: 12.0% male, 14.0% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (48.0% pay gap)
Source: benkrut / iStock
7. Kansas
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 76.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 33.0% male, 34.5% female
> Poverty rate: 10.7% male, 13.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (53.6% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
6. Idaho
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 75.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.1% male, 26.5% female
> Poverty rate: 11.5% male, 14.1% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (53.2% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
5. West Virginia
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 74.0%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 19.1% male, 21.2% female
> Poverty rate: 17.2% male, 20.9% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (57.3% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
4. Indiana
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 73.3%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 26.0% male, 27.5% female
> Poverty rate: 12.2% male, 14.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (42.8% pay gap)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
3. Alabama
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 73.2%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 24.8% male, 26.1% female
> Poverty rate: 15.2% male, 18.5% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (45.7% pay gap)
Source: Thinkstock
2. Utah
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 71.3%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 36.9% male, 32.3% female
> Poverty rate: 9.0% male, 10.4% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (46.6% pay gap)
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Source: Thinkstock
1. Louisiana
> Women’s earnings as pct. of men’s: 68.7%
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 21.8% male, 25.6% female
> Poverty rate: 17.7% male, 21.7% female
> Industry with the worst pay gap: Other services (53.1% pay gap)
Detailed Findings
Gender pay gaps vary by industry just as they do by state. Nationwide, the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining sector has the largest pay gap. Women working full-time in the industry earn just 59.2% of what men earn. Within the broad sector, the agriculture and forestry industry has the largest pay gap.
States with the worst gender pay inequality tend to have higher employment concentrations in industries with the widest pay gaps.
Adults with bachelor’s degrees have greater access to high-paying jobs than those with just a high school diploma. However, nationwide, 32.6% of adult women have a bachelor’s degree compared to 31.3% of men.
Counterintuitively, the difference in bachelor’s degree attainment rates between women and men is greater than the difference nationwide in eight of the 10 states with the worst inequality. Meanwhile, the education gap between women and men is smaller than typical in six of the 10 states with the lowest inequality.
Lower lifetime earnings make women especially vulnerable to financial insecurity in older age — particularly those who are widowed or disabled. Women age 65 and older are twice as likely to live below the poverty line as men in the same age group.
Nationwide, 14.5% of women live below the poverty line compared to 12.2% of men. In every state, no matter the size of the pay gap, the poverty rate is higher among women than it is among men.
Methodology
To identify the worst-paying states for women, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the median salary for women working full-time and the median salary for men working full-time for 2017 from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. We ranked the states by women’s salary as a share of men’s. Bachelor’s degree attainment rates by gender, poverty by gender, employment composition by industry, and pay gap by industry are also all for 2017 and from the ACS.
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