In 1848 Susan B. Anthony was working as a teacher in Canajoharie, N.Y., when she discovered that male teachers were paid $10 a month, while the female teachers earned just $2.50 a month, or 25%. That’s when she became involved with the teacher’s union.
She was 28 years old.
Today, 174 years later, women under 30 might be pleased to learn that in 22 U.S. cities, they are earning as much as or more than their male counterparts.
Well, the women in those cities might be pleased, at least.
A Pew Research analysis of the gender pay gap in the U.S. found that the gap is narrower among younger workers nationally, and varies across geographical areas. In the 22 cities, women under 30 earn at least the same as and up to 20% more than men under 30.
Then there are 107 metros where the women earn 90% to 99% of what the men earn, accounting for almost half of all women under 30 working full time in the U.S. in 2019.
In another 103 metros, women under 30 earn 80% to 89% of what the young men earn. In 18 metros, their earnings were 67% of 79% of the men’s.
Nationwide, among all full-time, year-round workers in 2019, the median annual earnings of women of all ages were 82% those of men, according to Pew.
Here are the cities where women under 30 are making more than men under 30, followed by the cities where the women are making the least compared with the men.
(The town where Susan B. Anthony taught has fewer than 4,000 people, too small the this analysis, but in nearby Albany, N.Y., women under 30 are making 94% of their male counterparts.)
1. Wenatchee, Wash.
- Median annual earnings, men: $25,251
- Median annual earnings, women: $30,363
- Gender earnings gap: 120%
- Number of male workers: 3,818
- Number of female workers: 2,568
In Wenatchee, women under 30 are earning on average 20% more than men.
2. Morgantown, W.Va.
- Median annual earnings, men: $28,507
- Median annual earnings, women: $32,373
- Gender earnings gap: 114%
- Number of male workers: 5,908
- Number of female workers: 4,134
3. Barnstable, Mass.
- Median annual earnings, men: $32,580
- Median annual earnings, women: $36,652
- Gender earnings gap: 112%
- Number of male workers: 6,061
- Number of female workers: 4,201
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4. Gainesville, Fla.
- Median annual earnings, men: $25,453
- Median annual earnings, women: $28,000
- Gender earnings gap: 110%
- Number of male workers: 9,610
- Number of female workers: 9,498
5. Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, Fla.
- Median annual earnings, men: $27,699
- Median annual earnings, women: $29,830
- Gender earnings gap: 108%
- Number of male workers: 10,344
- Number of female workers: 6,706
6. San Diego
- Median annual earnings, men: $30,755
- Median annual earnings, women: $32,373
- Gender earnings gap: 105%
- Number of male workers: 157,363
- Number of female workers: 95,880
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7. Yuba City, Calif.
- Median annual earnings, men: $30,896
- Median annual earnings, women: $32,373
- Gender earnings gap: 105%
- Number of male workers: 6,102
- Number of female workers: 4,062
8. New York
- Median annual earnings, men: $40,725
- Median annual earnings, women: $41,717
- Gender earnings gap: 102%
- Number of male workers: 637,423
- Number of female workers: 559,629
9. Washington D.C.
- Median annual earnings, men: $42,615
- Median annual earnings, women: $43,500
- Gender earnings gap: 102%
- Number of male workers: 215,474
- Number of female workers: 191,224
10. San Angelo, Texas
- Median annual earnings, men: $27,000
- Median annual earnings, women: $27,500
- Gender earnings gap: 102%
- Number of male workers: 6,379
- Number of female workers: 3,526
11. Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
- Median annual earnings, men: $30,000
- Median annual earnings, women: $30,544
- Gender earnings gap: 102%
- Number of male workers: 8,223
- Number of female workers: 6,924
12. Lebanon, Penn.
- Median annual earnings, men: $30,544
- Median annual earnings, women: $31,078
- Gender earnings gap: 102%
- Number of male workers: 4,727
- Number of female workers: 4,036
13. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, Calif.
- Median annual earnings, men: $31,961
- Median annual earnings, women: $32,373
- Gender earnings gap: 101%
- Number of male workers: 18,079
- Number of female workers: 13,157
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14. Winston-Salem, N.C.
- Median annual earnings, men: $31,002
- Median annual earnings, women: $31,288
- Gender earnings gap: 101%
- Number of male workers: 19,898
- Number of female workers: 15,615
15. Iowa City, Iowa
- Median annual earnings, men: $31,288
- Median annual earnings, women: $31,562
- Gender earnings gap: 101%
- Number of male workers: 6,334
- Number of female workers: 5,909
16. Sacramento, Calif.
- Median annual earnings, men: $33,374
- Median annual earnings, women: $33,598
- Gender earnings gap: 101%
- Number of male workers: 67,830
- Number of female workers: 57,289
In six metros, the earnings gap is 100%, or equal. Those cities are: Flagstaff, Ariz., Los Angeles, Oxnard, Calif., Richmond, Va., Honolulu and San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Cities Where Women Under 30 Earn the Least Compared With Men
1. Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.
- Median annual earnings, men: $39,707
- Median annual earnings, women: $26,634
- Gender earnings gap: 67%
- Number of male workers: 8,003
- Number of female workers: 5,613
In this metro, the wage gap is greatest, with the women earning on average 67% of what the men earn—the lowest of all 250 metropolitan areas in the study.
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2. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
- Median annual earnings, men: $38,353
- Median annual earnings, women: $25,899
- Gender earnings gap: 68%
- Number of male workers: 14,287
- Number of female workers: 10,617
3. Odessa, Texas
- Median annual earnings, men: $39,214
- Median annual earnings, women: $26,634
- Gender earnings gap: 68%
- Number of male workers: 8,494
- Number of female workers: 4,564
4. Mansfield, Ohio
- Median annual earnings, men: $32,644
- Median annual earnings, women: $22,373
- Gender earnings gap: 69%
- Number of male workers: 3,517
- Number of female workers: 2,729
5. Decatur, Ill.
- Median annual earnings, men: $34,531
- Median annual earnings, women: $24,077
- Gender earnings gap: 70%
- Number of male workers: 3,158
- Number of female workers: 2,959
Mr_Ackley / Shutterstock
6. Houma-Thibodaux, La.
- Median annual earnings, men: $37,769
- Median annual earnings, women: $26,634
- Gender earnings gap: 71%
- Number of male workers: 8,270
- Number of female workers: 6,603
ian munroe from Steinwenden, Germany/Wikipedia
7. Niles-Benton Harbor, Mich.
- Median annual earnings, men: $35,043
- Median annual earnings, women: $26,073
- Gender earnings gap: 74%
- Number of male workers: 4,255
- Number of female workers: 3,276
8. Baton Rouge, La.
- Median annual earnings, men: $36,190
- Median annual earnings, women: $26,978
- Gender earnings gap: 75%
- Number of male workers: 29,480
- Number of female workers: 25,408
9. Saginaw, Mich.
- Median annual earnings, men: $31,961
- Median annual earnings, women: $24,503
- Gender earnings gap: 77%
- Number of male workers: 5,397
- Number of female workers: 4,919
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10. Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- Median annual earnings, men: $31,288
- Median annual earnings, women: $24,000
- Gender earnings gap: 77%
- Number of male workers: 9,689
- Number of female workers: 7,683
11. Amarillo, Texas
- Median annual earnings, men: $32,500
- Median annual earnings, women: $25,000
- Gender earnings gap: 77%
- Number of male workers: 10,655
- Number of female workers: 7,955
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12. Glens Falls, N.Y.
- Median annual earnings, men: $35,157
- Median annual earnings, women: $27,116
- Gender earnings gap: 77%
- Number of male workers: 3,719
- Number of female workers: 2,811
Tyler A. McNeil/Wikipedia
13. Bloomington, Ill.
- Median annual earnings, men: $37,769
- Median annual earnings, women: $29,136
- Gender earnings gap: 77%
- Number of male workers: 5,914
- Number of female workers: 5,100
14. Bismarck, N.D.
- Median annual earnings, men: $45,815
- Median annual earnings, women: $35,634
- Gender earnings gap: 78%
- Number of male workers: 5,885
- Number of female workers: 5,533
15. Mobile, Ala.
- Median annual earnings, men: $30,000
- Median annual earnings, women: $23,438
- Gender earnings gap: 78%
- Number of male workers: 13,766
- Number of female workers: 10,684
Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock
16. Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss.
- Median annual earnings, men: $30,544
- Median annual earnings, women: $23,883
- Gender earnings gap: 78%
- Number of male workers: 13,360
- Number of female workers: 8,608
Read more about the gender wage gap and the methodology for this analysis at the Pew Research Center.
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