Wage Gaps in America: An Analysis of Earnings by Gender, Race, and Education

Table of Contents

At Academized, we’ve collected and analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to examine key trends in wage disparities. Specifically, we looked at various data sets, including:

Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and sex
Women’s median usual weekly earnings as a percent of men’s earnings
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by age and sex
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex
Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by educational attainment

Based on these data, we identified these key findings:

You need to be an Asian man with a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a professional job to earn the most.
Asian men earn the highest wages overall, especially in high-paying industries like management and professional occupations, where education amplifies their advantage.
Women earn about 80% of men’s earnings, with the smallest gender gap for Black and Hispanic or Latino workers.
Despite progress, women consistently trail men in earnings, but Black and Hispanic or Latino women experience a smaller gap due to generally lower overall earnings among men in these groups.
A Bachelor’s degree or higher significantly boosts your earnings compared to those with only a high school diploma.
Workers with college degrees earn $1,697 weekly on average, while high school graduates earn $946.
Service jobs pay the least, but the gender pay gap in this sector is smaller than in other industries.
Both men and women earn poorly in service roles, with men earning around $830 and women $720, showing one of the narrowest pay gaps despite low overall wages.
Black women come closest to closing the gender gap but still earn less than White and Asian workers.
While Black women make a higher percentage of men’s earnings within their racial group, they remain disadvantaged compared to women of other races in absolute pay.
Gen Z workers earn far less than Boomers, but the charts don’t provide data on education comparisons.
Younger workers face stagnating wages, rising costs, and fewer high-paying opportunities, but their education levels compared to older generations are not explicitly shown in the charts.
Hispanic and Latino women face the greatest pay disadvantages, earning the lowest across gender and racial lines.
Hispanic and Latino women earn $825 weekly, which is about 85% of what Hispanic and Latino men earn ($964), and their earnings are among the lowest of all groups, alongside Black women.
Management and professional jobs pay the most, but the gender gap persists.
These roles not only offer the highest wages but also show a significant gender pay gap, with men earning $1,950 weekly compared to $1,600 for women—a $350 difference.
Without a high school diploma, you’re likely stuck below $750 per week, regardless of age, race, or gender.
Education is the strongest predictor of income, and workers without a diploma struggle to break into higher-paying opportunities.
Asian women lead women’s earnings, while Hispanic and Latino women earn the least, highlighting racial income disparities.
The earnings of Asian women reflect a combination of access to higher-paying industries and education, whereas Hispanic and Latino women earn less due to limited access to similar opportunities, earning $825 weekly.

Gender-Based Earnings Comparison

This chart shows the usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers categorized by sex. The disparity in earnings between men and women is clear, with men consistently earning more. The chart visually emphasizes the income gap across the workforce, showing that women earn about 80% of what men earn on average. Despite gradual improvements over the years, the gender pay gap remains a persistent issue, especially in certain age groups and industries.

Earnings by Race, Ethnicity, and Gender

Here, we see the breakdown of earnings across various racial and ethnic groups, comparing both men and women within those groups. It highlights racial disparities, with Asian men earning the highest wages, nearly $1,900 weekly, and Hispanic women facing the steepest pay gap. Hispanic women earn $825 weekly, about 85% of Hispanic men’s earnings, making them one of the lowest-paid groups overall. Black women also face significant disparities, earning slightly less than Hispanic women despite having a smaller gender gap within their group.

Women's Earnings as a Proportion of Men's Earnings

This chart compares women’s weekly earnings to men’s, showing the percentage of men’s earnings that women typically earn. It illustrates that while the gap has narrowed in some groups, women across all races earn less than men. Black and Hispanic women face smaller gender gaps relative to men in their groups, though their overall earnings are among the lowest. Interestingly, Asian women face the largest gender pay gap, earning around 74% of Asian men’s wages, reflecting how high male wages in their group accentuate the disparity.

Earnings Across Age Groups and Gender

This chart depicts how earnings differ by age and sex, emphasizing the consistent wage gap between men and women at various life stages. It shows that, regardless of age, men generally earn more than women, though younger workers, particularly those aged 16-24, earn significantly less than older ones. The earnings peak for both men and women occurs between ages 35-54, where the gender gap also widens most notably, highlighting the compounding effects of career progression and systemic barriers.

Earnings by Occupation and Gender

In this chart, we can see the disparity in earnings across different occupations, separated by gender. While management and professional occupations offer the highest wages, with men earning around $1,900 weekly and women earning $1,600, the gender pay gap in these fields is wider than in lower-paying industries. Service roles, for instance, show a smaller pay gap, with men earning around $830 and women $720. However, these roles also offer the lowest overall pay, showing that smaller gaps do not necessarily equate to equity.

Earnings by Educational Level

This chart demonstrates how educational attainment strongly correlates with earnings, with those holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher earning $1,697 weekly on average. In contrast, workers with only a high school diploma earn $946 weekly, and those without a diploma earn even less, often below $750 weekly. The data underscores how education is the single most powerful predictor of earnings, with higher degrees significantly amplifying earning potential across all demographics.

Conclusion

The data from these charts paints a clear picture of the disparities in earnings shaped by gender, race, education, age, and occupation. While education proves to be the most influential factor in boosting income, significant gaps persist across demographic lines. Ultimately, these insights highlight the urgent need for targeted policies and systemic changes to address the root causes of wage inequity and create a more equitable workforce for all.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics