New Census Data Show U.S. Gender Pay Gap Widened for Second Straight Year
An NPR report marking Equal Pay Day 2026 says new Census Bureau data show women working full time, year‑round earned an average of 81 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2024, down from 83 cents the year before and 84 cents the year before that. Advocates note this is the first time since the 1960s that the U.S. has seen the gender wage gap widen in back‑to‑back years, pushing Equal Pay Day to March 26 — one day later than in 2025. The Census attributes much of the change to men’s median income rising 3.7% between 2023 and 2024 while women’s median income stayed flat, against a backdrop of persistent occupational segregation that leaves women concentrated in low‑wage work. Deborah Vagins of the Equal Pay Today coalition says federal efforts to narrow the gap stalled under Congress, pointing to the failure of Biden‑era pay‑transparency proposals and the Trump administration’s earlier termination of an Obama‑era EEOC rule that required large employers to report pay data by sex and race. The coalition is now pushing for a future Congress to restore federal pay‑data collection and enact nationwide pay‑transparency rules, arguing that without better measurement and disclosure it will be difficult to reverse the recent backslide.
📌 Key Facts
- Equal Pay Day 2026 falls on March 26, reflecting how long women must work into the new year to match men’s prior‑year earnings.
- Census Bureau data show women working full‑time, year‑round earned 81 cents per dollar earned by men in 2024, down from 83 cents the prior year and 84 cents the year before.
- Between 2023 and 2024, men’s median income rose 3.7% while women’s median income was flat, driving the wider gap.
- Advocates say this is the first consecutive widening of the gender wage gap since the 1960s.
- An Obama‑era EEOC rule requiring large employers to submit pay data by sex and race was halted by the first Trump administration after two years, reducing federal visibility into pay disparities.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, Black women working full-time earned 65 cents for every dollar earned by men overall in full-time positions.
Pay Gap Data Shows Women Falling Behind; AAUW Steps Up with Solutions — American Association of University Women (AAUW)
In 2023, Hispanic women earned 57 cents for every dollar earned by White non-Hispanic men, reflecting a 43 percent wage gap.
US Department of Labor releases research on continued economic disparities facing women workers — U.S. Department of Labor
In 2024, mothers earned 65 cents for every dollar earned by fathers in full-time, year-round positions, reflecting a 35 percent motherhood wage penalty.
Mothers Earned 35 Percent Less than Fathers in 2024 — Bankrate
In 2023, employed men spent 7.47 hours per weekday on paid work and work-related activities, compared to 6.52 hours for women.
How do men and women use time differently? — USAFacts
In 2024, 65 percent of women in professional occupations worked in education and healthcare jobs, compared with 28 percent of men, while 50 percent of men in professional occupations worked in computer and mathematical jobs, compared with 12 percent of women.
Highlights of women's earnings in 2024 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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