Pay Gap (US)
Calculate the US gender pay gap between men and women median annual salaries. Free tool shows pay gap amount, percentage, and women's earnings ratio with charts.
About This Calculator
The Pay Gap Calculator (US) helps you understand the gender wage gap in the United States by comparing median annual salaries of men and women. Simply enter the median earnings for both groups to instantly see the pay gap amount in dollars, the percentage difference, and how much women earn for every dollar men earn. This tool is useful for employers conducting pay equity audits, HR professionals analyzing compensation data, researchers studying wage disparities, and anyone interested in understanding workplace gender inequality.
The gender pay gap is calculated as: Pay Gap % = ((Men's Salary − Women's Salary) ÷ Men's Salary) × 100. For example, if men earn a median of $60,000 per year and women earn $51,000, the pay gap is $9,000 or 15%, meaning women earn 85 cents for every dollar a man earns. According to Pew Research Center (2024), the unadjusted gender pay gap in the US stands at approximately 15%, with women earning 85% of men's median earnings. The gap varies by state, industry, occupation, age, and race — with women of color experiencing wider disparities. Key legislation addressing the gap includes the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
Regional Notes (US)
This calculator focuses on the United States, where the gender pay gap is tracked by the US Census Bureau (annual earnings) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (weekly earnings). The national female-to-male earnings ratio varies by state from approximately 70% (Utah) to 90% (Vermont, New York). California, Massachusetts, and New York have enacted additional state-level pay equity laws that expand on federal protections. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which would further strengthen equal pay laws, has been proposed but not yet enacted at the federal level.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the gender pay gap calculated?
The gender pay gap is calculated by subtracting women's median annual salary from men's median annual salary, then dividing by men's salary to get the percentage. For example, if men earn $60,000 and women earn $51,000, the gap is $9,000 or 15%.
What is the current gender pay gap in the United States?
According to Pew Research Center (2024), women in the United States earn approximately 85% of what men earn, resulting in a pay gap of about 15% for full-time year-round workers.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes, our Pay Gap Calculator (US) is completely free to use with no registration required. You can share your results by copying the URL.
What factors contribute to the gender pay gap?
Factors include occupational segregation, differences in hours worked, work experience, education, the motherhood penalty, negotiation differences, and potential discrimination. The exact causes are debated among economists.
How does the pay gap vary by race in the US?
The pay gap is wider for women of color. Compared to white men's earnings, Asian women earn about 87%, white women 82%, Black women 65%, and Latina women 58% according to recent data.
Has the US gender pay gap been closing over time?
The gap has narrowed significantly since the 1960s when women earned about 60% of men's earnings. However, progress has slowed in recent decades, with the gap remaining relatively stable at around 15-20% since the early 2000s.
What is the Equal Pay Act of 1963?
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 is a US federal law that prohibits wage discrimination based on sex for substantially equal work in the same establishment. It was one of the first major laws aimed at addressing the gender pay gap.
How can employers use this calculator?
Employers and HR professionals can use this calculator to perform basic pay equity analysis by comparing median salaries across gender groups. It provides a starting point for identifying potential compensation disparities.