Gender Wage Gap Persists Despite Progress in Some Fields

A recent government meeting highlighted persistent gender wage gaps in Wake County, particularly within high-demand and high-earning sectors such as management and architecture. The 2022 data presented revealed that while some occupational families show minimal or even reversed wage disparities—such as installation and maintenance, and health technologists—these fields generally offer lower pay.

The analysis indicated that women continue to earn less than men across most occupations, with significant gaps remaining in lucrative areas. For instance, in management roles, women's earnings dropped from 72% of men's in 2015 to 68.7% in 2022. Similarly, in architecture and engineering, women's earnings fell from 81% to 73% over the same period.

Encouragingly, the report noted improvements in certain sectors. In computer and mathematical occupations, the wage gap narrowed from 77% to 86% of men's earnings, reflecting a 9.7 percentage point increase. The most notable progress was seen in installation, maintenance, and repair, where women's earnings surged from 59% to 99% of men's, although women represent only 4% of the workforce in that field.

The findings underscore the ongoing need for targeted efforts to close the wage gap, particularly in high-paying occupations, to ensure equitable earnings for women and their families in the county.