Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the date in the year that a Black woman working full-time, year-round would have needed to work to earn what the average non-Hispanic white man earned in 2022. That measures out to Black women earning just 67 cents for every dollar compared to white men.
At this current rate, this means that Black women working full time, year-round will make $907,680 less over a lifetime, according to the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC). In addition, this wage gap data from NWLC shows:
- Black women experience a wage gap compared to white, non-Hispanic men at every education level, even when they have earned a graduate degree.
- Black women working full-time, year-round with a bachelor’s degree are typically paid $55,755, which is less than what white, non-Hispanic men working full-time, year-round with some college yet no degree are typically paid ($58,576).
- Among doctorate degree holders, a Black woman working full-time, year-round typically makes 65 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man working full-time, year-round with the same education makes—an annual loss of $53,334, or more than $2.1 million over the course of a 40-year career
- Black women also face a wage gap in each of the ten occupations where they are most likely to work, many of which are low paid. For example, Black women working full time, year round as cashiers and retail salespeople (the second most common occupation for Black women) make just 55 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man working full time, year round makes.
If this pay gap continues, Black women will have to wait over A CENTURY to earn #EqualPay in this country.
These gaps are unacceptable and we believe that economic empowerment is women’s empowerment. We have solutions to help solve pay inequity in our communities and it is beyond time that we implement them. Here are some ways you can support equal pay efforts:
- Educate yourself on the gender pay gap! The American Association of University Women (AAUW)’s research is a great place to start.
- Mark your calendar with the other pay days so you advocate for pay equity for ALL WOMEN throughout this year.
- Call your legislators and ask them to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will break these harmful patterns of pay discrimination and strengthen workplace protections for women.
Together, we can end pay inequity in this country. Because, as we know, when we economically empower women, we all win.