Despite decades of advocacy for equal pay, the pay gap between men and women in the United States still remains wide.
Overall, full-time, year-round working women earn about 82% of what their male counterparts earn. The gap is even wider among full-time workers with a bachelor’s degree (70%), according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In order to gain a better understanding of where gender pay gaps are the largest, we took a closer look at earnings in cities across the country as well as all 50 states.
Our analysis looked at earnings for full-time, year-round workers within the most populated 170 cities in the United States. We also compared earnings among those over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree.
Key findings
- The Silicon Valley city of Sunnyvale, California has the largest pay gap in the country, with an earnings difference of $40,584 between men and women.
- California cities dominate the top 10 list of cities with the largest pay gaps, including Sunnyvale (No. 1); Huntington Beach (No. 6); Fremont (No. 7); Irvine (No. 9), and San Francisco (No. 10).
- In terms of states with the largest pay gaps, Wyoming ranks No. 1, with an earnings difference of $18,877 between men and women. On average, the pay gap in Wyoming has increased $2,376 per year since 2017.
Which cities have the largest gender pay gaps?
Nationwide, the pay gap between men and women is about $11,165. Full-time, year-round working men earn an average of $60,428 while their female counterparts earn $49,263.
However, in Sunnyvale, California, the pay gap is $40,584, which is more than three-and-a-half times the nationwide average.
Top five cities with largest gender pay gaps
#1. Sunnyvale, California
- Median Earnings: Men – $143,664
- Median Earnings: Women – $103,080
- Pay Gap: $40,584
- Median Earnings: Men with Bachelor’s Degree – $133,086
- Median Earnings: Women with Bachelor’s Degree – $90,421
- Pay Gap with Bachelor’s Degree: $42,665
#2. Frisco, Texas
- Median Earnings: Men – $111,458
- Median Earnings: Women – $71,599
- Pay Gap: $39,859
- Median Earnings: Men with Bachelor’s Degree – $123,775
- Median Earnings: Women with Bachelor’s Degree – $57,389
- Pay Gap with Bachelor’s Degree: $66,386
#3. Cary, North Carolina
- Median Earnings: Men – $103,944
- Median Earnings: Women – $64,453
- Pay Gap: $39,491
- Median Earnings: Men with Bachelor’s Degree – $110,765
- Median Earnings: Women with Bachelor’s Degree – $58,587
- Pay Gap with Bachelor’s Degree: $52,178
#4. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Median Earnings: Men – $95,611
- Median Earnings: Women – $63,769
- Pay Gap: $31,842
- Median Earnings: Men with Bachelor’s Degree – $98,259
- Median Earnings: Women with Bachelor’s Degree – $60,768
- Pay Gap with Bachelor’s Degree: $37,491
#5. McKinney, Texas
- Median Earnings: Men – $90,401
- Median Earnings: Women – $61,386
- Pay Gap: $29,015
- Median Earnings: Men with Bachelor’s Degree – $103,300
- Median Earnings: Women with Bachelor’s Degree – $62,131
- Pay Gap with Bachelor’s Degree: $41,169
Largest gender pay gaps: Bachelor’s degrees
When it comes to those who are 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree, the nationwide pay gap between men and women is $22,326, which is twice as high as the total gender pay gap in the U.S. ($11,165). On average, men with a bachelor’s degree earn $73,592, while women earn $51,266.
The Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Frisco, Texas has the largest pay gap among men and women with a bachelor’s degree. Overall, men in Frisco with a four-year degree earn $123,775, while women with a four-year degree earn $57,389, according to Census data. This is a staggering difference of $66,386.
Meanwhile, the smallest pay gaps among those with a four-year degree can be found in Rancho Cucamonga, California ($78); Port St. Lucie, Florida ($171) and Ontario, California ($255).
Elsewhere, there are only three cities where women with a four-year degree earn more than their male counterparts, including Modesto, California ($403); Santa Ana, California ($5,307) and Fort Lauderdale, Florida ($10,806).
Which states have the largest gender pay gaps?
Among all 50 states, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Utah, Washington and Louisiana have the top five largest gender pay gaps. In Wyoming, the median earnings for men is $59,853, while the median earnings for women is $40,976, which is a difference of $18,877.
New Hampshire ranks second with an earnings gap of $16,686, followed by Utah ($16,562); Washington ($16,501) and Louisiana ($14,942).
As far as states with the smallest gender pay gaps, Vermont ranks No. 1 with a difference of $3,872, followed by Alaska ($6,849); Nevada ($7,492); New York ($7,643) and Arkansas ($7,803).
However, the pay gap among those with a four-year degree in those same states is considerably higher. In Vermont, the pay gap among those with a four-year degree is $9,608, followed by Alaska ($18,478); Nevada ($13,096); New York ($14,616) and Arkansas ($19,817).
Methodology
To determine our ranking, we analyzed median earnings for full-time, year-round workers in the most populated 170 census-defined places via the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. We then analyzed median earnings for full-time, year-round workers ages 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree. The same datasets were also analyzed in order to determine the earnings gap in all 50 states.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey
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