California’s Working Women Ask: Why Do Men Make More?

• Women's History Month - A Time To Look At Inequality In Women's Pay

• Equal Pay Day Means There's Still More History To Be Made 

The gender pay gap is the difference between the greater average earnings of men and the lesser earnings of women in the workforce. Attempts to narrow the gap have been ongoing but slow. Women have gained ground at what amounts to just 40 cents a year over the last 60 years, 

Many factors impact the difference in men's and women's pay including age, education hours worked, and more - and they all add up to women having to work longer just to make as much as men.

California's Working Women Have To Keep On Working To Try Catch Up

According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, the next Equal Pay Day is Tuesday, March 12, 2024. What, you ask, is Equal Pay Day? For starters, it's not something to celebrate. The day marks how far into this year women have to work to earn what men earned last year.

The Highs And Lows Of The Gender Gap

U.S. Census data shows Utah had the highest gap with men earning $63,245 while women earned $38,217 — a difference of $25,028. New Hampshire and Washington state were next, with gaps of $18,821 and $18,757.  The smallest gap was in Vermont, with a difference of $7,459. 

California Ranks In The Bottom Half Of the Nation For Gender Pay Gap

California ranked 34th on the Census Bureau's list. There is conflicting information online about how each state is handling the Gender Pay Gap, but the Census Bureau says California's men earned $59,577 and women earned $46,176, for a difference of $13,401...about 28% LESS than men.   On average, women still earn 16% less than men. 

Hey, we agree with the Beach Boys. We wish they all could be California girls...BUT...with bigger, well-deserved, paychecks!

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