Since the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, the wage gap has been closing at a very slow rate. In 1963, women who worked full-time, year-round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. In 2010, women earned 77 cents to men's dollar. That means that the wage gap has narrowed by less than half a cent per year! Over the past 40 years, the real median earnings of women have fallen short by an estimated $700,000 to $2 million. Economist Evelyn Murphy, president of The Wage Project, estimates that over a lifetime (47 years of full-time work) this gap amounts to a loss in wages for a woman of $700,000 for a high school graduate

$1.2 million for a college graduate

$2 million for a professional school graduate. Based on its research, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research estimated in 2015 that women won’t receive equal pay until 2059.





















The Wage Gap Over Time Updated September 2019 Year Women's Men's Dollar Percent

Earnings Earnings Difference 2018 $45,097 $55,291 $10,194 81.6** 2017 $41,977 $52,146 $10,169 80.5% 2016 $41,554 $51,640 $10,086 80.5% 2015 $40,742 $51,212 $10,470 79.6% 2014 $39,621 $50,383 $10,762 78.6% 2013 $39,157 $50,033 $10,876 78.3% 2012 $37,791 $49,398 $11,607 76.5% 2011 $37,118 $48,202 $11,084 77.0% 2010 $36,931 $47,715 $10,784 77.4% 2009 $36,278 $47,127 $10,849 77.0% 2008 $35,745 $46,367 $10,622 77.1% 2007 $35,102 $45,113 $10,011 77.8% 2006 $32,515 $42,261 $9,476 76.9% 2005 $31,858 $41,386 $9,528 77.0% 2004* $32,285 $42,160 $9,875 76.6% 2003 $30,724 $40,668 $9,944 75.5% 2002 $30,203 $39,429 $9,226 76.6% 2001 $29,215 $38,275 $9,060 76.3% 2000 $27,355 $37,339 $9,984 73.3% 1999 $27,208 $37,701 $10,493 72.2% 1998 $27,290 $37,296 $10,006 73.2% 1997 $26,720 $36,030 $9,310 74.2% 1996 $25,919 $35,138 $9,219 73.8% 1995 $25,260 $35,365 $10,105 71.4% 1994 $25,558 $35,513 $9,955 72.0% 1993 $25,579 $35,765 $10,186 71.5% 1992 $25,791 $36,436 $10,645 70.8% 1991 $25,457 $36,440 $10,983 69.9% 1990 $25,451 $35,538 $10,087 71.6% 1989 $25,310 $36,855 $11,545 66.0% 1988 $24,774 $37,509 $12,735 66.0% 1987 $24,663 $37,389 $12,726 65.2% 1986 $24,479 $38,088 $13,609 64.3% 1985 $23,978 $37,131 $13,153 64.6% 1984 $23,453 $36,842 $13,389 63.7% 1983 $22,961 $36,106 $13,055 63.6% 1982 $22,367 $36,224 $13,857 61.7% 1981 $21,830 $36,854 $15,024 59.2% 1980 $22,279 $37,033 $14,754 60.2% 1979 $22,446 $37,622 $15,176 59.7% 1978 $22,617 $38,051 $15,005 59.4% 1977 $21,743 $36,901 $15,158 58.9% 1976 $21,738 $36,114 $14,376 60.2% 1975 $21,297 $36,207 $14,910 58.8% 1974 $21,419 $36,456 $15,037 58.8% 1973 $21,397 $37,381 $15,984 56.6% 1972 $21,185 $36,614 $15,429 57.9% 1971 $20,691 $34,771 $14,080 59.5% 1970 $20,567 $34,642 $14,075 59.4% 1969 $20,156 $34,241 $14,085 58.9% 1968 $18,836 $32,389 $13,553 58.2% 1967 $18,241 $31,568 $13,327 57.8% 1966 $17,874 $31,055 $13,181 57.6% 1965 $17,852 $29,791 $11,939 59.9% 1964 $17,368 $29,362 $11,994 59.1% 1963 $16,908 $28,684 $11,776 58.9% 1962 $16,587 $27,972 $11,385 59.3% 1961 $16,272 $27,463 $11,191 59.2% 1960 $16,144 $26,608 $10,464 60.7% Note: Earnings in current and 2000 CPI-U-RS adjusted dollars. **The U.S. Census Bureau adjusted their pay data methodology for this year (2018 data) changing the reported gap, but this does not reflect a real change in America. The gap is not statistically different from last year. * 2004 data revised to reflect a correction to the weights in the 2005 ASEC. Source: Census Bureau reports and data, Current Population Reports, Median Earning of Workers 15 Years Old and Over by Work Experience and Sex.