What’s A Woman Worth?
Snapshot of Women’s Earning Power

The average American woman was paid 76 cents for each dollar paid to a man in 2002. Twenty years ago, women nationally earned about 67 cents to a man’s dollar.

Some progress? A little. But statisticians say nearly half the decrease in the gap came from a decline in men’s real earnings rather than increases for women. And one third to one half of the existing gap is due to gender alone, not differences in experience, education or other legitimate qualifications.

Over a career this gap can cost a professional woman up to $400,000 in addition to reduced retirement benefits and social security.

Are you worth more than you earn? Depends. What can you do about it? Plenty. What happens when a state legislates equal pay for comparable work? Twenty states already have, with small effects on budget and major improvements in the lives of many low paid, often female workers.

Here’s the facts:

• There is a gender-based wage gap.
• There may be one for you.
• If so, you can do something about it.
• Use the "Increase Your Earnings" tips to help yourself!

Read ‘em and weep!

*2001 median wage and salary earnings of men and women working full time 50 or more weeks a year.

In 2002, 12.1% of the 4,663 male-headed single parent households (no wife present) fell below the poverty line. In contrast, 26.5 of the 13,626 female-headed single parent households (no husband present) fell below the poverty line.

10.1% of all people over 65 live in poverty. But elderly women face poverty at nearly twice the rate of men.

Women Have Lower Income in Retirement than Men -- And Thus Higher Poverty.
In 1997, median income for elderly unmarried women (widowed, divorced, separated, and never married) was $11,161, compared with $14,769 for elderly unmarried men and $29,278 for elderly married couples.

Thus, the poverty rate for elderly women was higher than that of men: in 1997, the poverty rate of elderly women was 13.1 percent, compared to 7.0 percent among men. Among unmarried elderly women, the poverty rate was significantly higher -- about 19 percent.

Nearly 60 Percent of Elderly Women Are Unmarried. The poverty rate among unmarried women is particularly important because 59 percent of elderly women are either widowed (45 percent), divorced (7 percent), separated (2 percent), or never married (5 percent). In contrast, only 27 percent of elderly men are unmarried.

Without Social Security, more than half of elderly women would live in poverty.

Data from National economic council Interagency working group on social Security.
OCTOBER 27,1998.
Available at http://www.ssa.gov/history/pdf/sswomen.pdf.
Accessed December 5, 2003