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

Fair Use: Feel free to use this data and research with proper attribution linking to this study.

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