Nearly 70% of 6-Figure Earners Are Men, While Nearly 60% of Lowest Earners Are Women

Despite progress toward workplace equality, the gender pay gap continues to be a pressing issue in America. In fact, 68.6% of six-figure earners are men, according to the latest DepositAccounts study.

That said, progress is evident: The percentage of women grew in every income tier from 2013 to 2023, jumping the most in the four highest.

Here’s a closer look.

Key findings

• 68.6% of full-time, year-round workers 16 and older who earn six figures are men. For every woman who makes at least $100,000, 2.2 men earn that amount. Disparities increase at higher income levels, with 75.3% of $200,000-plus earners being men. Conversely, the majority of workers earning less than $25,000 are women (57.6%).
• Utah has the highest gender pay gap among workers earning at least six figures. In Utah, 81.2% of these earners are men and only 18.8% are women. Wyoming (80.5%) and North Dakota (78.8%) have the next highest percentages of male six-figure earners. The lowest disparity is in the District of Columbia, where 53.9% of six-figure earners are men, while 46.1% are women. Maryland (62.3%) and New York (62.6%) follow.
• The highest disparity among workers making less than $25,000 is in Louisiana. In Louisiana, 60.7% of the lowest earners are women. Comparatively, 39.3% are men. Utah (60.1%) ranks second, while Alabama and Mississippi tie for third at 59.9%. The smallest gap is in Nevada and Alaska, where women account for 54.4% of workers in this income range, followed by California (55.3%).
• The percentage of women grew in every income tier from 2013 to 2023, while the percentage of men declined across all categories. The increase was greatest for the highest earners, with the rate of women earning $200,000 or more increasing by 38.7%. Women saw double-digit increases across the four highest income tiers. 
• Across all occupations, women earn 81.1% of men's median earnings. As of 2023, full-time, year-round female workers have a median income of $53,617, while men earn a median of $66,099. Legal occupations have the largest gender pay gap, with women earning only 54.6% of men's earnings. The gap is smallest in community and social service occupations, where women earn 96.9% of men's median income.

Majority of 6-figure earners are men

Reaching a six-figure salary is a significant milestone, but the gender pay gap prevents many women from reaching it. 

Among full-time, year-round workers 16 and older who earn six figures, 68.6% are men. Put another way, there are 2.2 men for every woman who makes at least $100,000. 

Matt Schulz — LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst and author of "Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life" — says there are many reasons the gender pay gap is persistent. 

“Biases in hiring and promotions still exist,” he says. “Traditional gender roles and stereotypes make a difference, too. For many Americans, it’s not as acceptable for a woman to be ambitious and career-driven as it is for a man. That's evolving, certainly, but it still exists.”

He adds, “Mothers typically bear more child-rearing responsibilities, which may keep them from engaging as much as they'd like to in the workplace, which may lead to having fewer chances to get ahead.”

That gap widens the higher paychecks get. Among those earning $150,000 to $199,999, 70.4% are men. And among those earning $200,000-plus, 75.3% are men. 

Conversely, women make up more than half of the two lowest income brackets, with 57.6% of workers earning less than $25,000 and 50.3% of those earning $25,000 to $49,999 being women.

81.2% of 6-figure earners in Utah are men

By state, the six-figure pay gap is largest in Utah, where 81.2% of these earners are men and only 18.8% are women. 

Utah is the most religious state in the U.S., according to an analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, with an estimated 76% of the population identifying as religious. That means more residents likely adhere to traditional family structures, with men as primary breadwinners.

Wyoming follows, with 80.5% of six-figure earners being men. North Dakota (78.8%) rounds out the top three. Both states have economies heavily reliant on the mining, oil and gas industries, which traditionally employ more men in higher-paying roles. 

In fact, women make up just 24.1% of the global mining, oil and gas workforce, according to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2024. 

Conversely, the District of Columbia has the lowest gap among six-figure earners. Here, 53.9% of six-figure earners are men and 46.1% are women. Maryland (62.3%) and New York (62.6%) follow.

Full rankings

Majority of lowest earners in Louisiana are women

Women aren't just underrepresented among six-figure earners; they are overrepresented in the lowest income bracket. By state, Louisiana has the highest disparity among those making less than $25,000, with women at 60.7% and men at 39.3%. 

Utah (60.1%) follows, with Alabama and Mississippi tying for third (59.9%).

Except for Utah, the top-ranking states have median household incomes below the U.S. median of $78,538 — which may exacerbate the gender pay gap. 

“Lower income means fewer options and opportunities,” Schulz says. “It means they may not have an emergency fund to lean on if there's a medical emergency or job loss. It means they may not be able to afford child care. It means they may need to run up card debt to extend their budget. It may mean they can't afford to save for a down payment or start a small business.” 

Conversely, Nevada and Alaska have the smallest share of women earning less than $25,000, with women accounting for 54.4% of workers in this income range. California (55.3%) is third.

Full rankings

Percentage of 6-figure earning women has grown 

The gender pay gap may be disheartening, but there has been progress: The percentage of women grew in every income tier from 2013 to 2023, with notable double-digit increases across the four highest categories. 

The rate of women earning $200,000 or more increased by a significant 38.7%, while the rate of women earning between $150,000 and $199,999 jumped 29.4%. And while women still make up a smaller share of these earners than men, such significant increases suggest the gap may be narrowing. 

“I expect that growth to continue,” Schulz says. “I believe that, in part, because data has shown that women are more likely than men to negotiate salaries, which is hugely important. Unfortunately, the data shows that women are also more likely to get turned down. Even so, more women negotiating is good. It means they're raising the ceiling on their future earnings.”

Meanwhile, the percentage of men declined across all categories. It fell the most among those earning $100,000 to $149,999, dropping 9.9%. 

Legal occupations have largest gender pay gap

Full-time, year-round female workers earned a median income of $53,617 as of 2023, while men earned a median of $66,099 — meaning women earn 81.1% of men's median earnings. 

Turning to an occupational look, the biggest gender pay gap is in legal occupations, where women earn only 54.6% of men's earnings. While women in the legal profession earn a median of $84,656, men earn $155,041. 

Sales and related occupations ties for second with health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations. In these two areas, women earn 67.8% of men’s median earnings. 

Community and social service occupations (such as social workers, school counselors and marriage and family therapists) have the smallest gap. Women earn a median of $56,503 and men earn a median of $58,332 — meaning women make 96.9% of men's median income. Life, physical and social science occupations (such as scientists, economists and historians) and health care support occupations (such as home aides, massage therapists and medical assistants) tie for second, at 89.3%.

Broadening to an industry-wide look, women's earnings exceed the overall ratio of 81.1% in nine. The largest gender earning gap is in the finance and insurance sector, where women's median earnings are only 60.7% of men's earnings. 

Conversely, the narrowest gap is in the construction industry, where women earn 95.6% of men's median earnings.

Planning for financial success as a professional woman: Top expert tips

Feeling behind in your career is common, particularly among women and minorities wrestling with pay gaps. It may leave you feeling behind in all financial aspects of your life, but Schulz says there are a few things you can do to help bolster your success in the long run. 

• Never be afraid to negotiate. “It isn't just about job interviews and promotions,” he says. “Negotiations matter when you're getting a credit card or buying a car, among many other things. Taking the time to do your homework and using that knowledge to negotiate can make a huge difference with your finances. Yes, it can be nerve-racking, but managing your nerves for a few minutes in pursuit of a better deal can be worth it.”
• Tracking your accomplishments matters. “Taking a few minutes every week or two to note what you've accomplished can be helpful,” he says. “If you're consistent with it, it’ll leave you with a long list you can refer to the next time you're talking salary or promotion. That's a big deal because it means that when it’s time to negotiate, you can cherry-pick from that list rather than scrambling and coming up with ideas in a hurry. And don't just list the big things. Tracking when you've done little things to step up for the team and go above and beyond your job description can be useful.”
• Open a high-yield savings account. Regardless of your current income, a high-yield savings account can help you grow your nest egg, which is crucial to thriving financially.

Methodology

DepositAccounts researchers analyzed the U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey with five-year estimates to count the number of actively employed men and women in each state who reported individual, annualized earnings in the following bands:

• Less than $25,000
• $25,000 to $49,999
• $50,000 to $74,999
• $75,000 to $99,999
• $100,000 to $149,999
• $150,000 to $199,999
• $200,000 and higher

The final three bands were summed to count men and women who earned $100,000 or more. Analysts also calculated the percentage of active male and female workers within each band. Additionally, we used median earnings by industry and occupation for the full-time, year-round employed civilian population 16 and older.

Analysts also utilized the U.S. Census Bureau 2013 American Community Survey with five-year estimates to compare trends in earnings between men and women over the past decade.