Washington, D.C. — The gender wage gap narrowed in 2025, as Americans continue to grapple with rising costs for groceries, health care, child care, utilities, and other household necessities, according to a new analysis from the Center for American Progress.
The analysis, released following new annual income data from the U.S. Census Bureau, finds that women working full time, year-round earned 84 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2025, narrowing the gap by 3 cents compared with 2024. Women working full time, year-round earned a median annual income of $60,760—$11,620 less than men.
Among all women workers, including those working part time or part year, women earned 78 cents for every dollar earned by men, representing an annual earnings gap of $13,760.
“While the wage gap narrowed for most women, there were still disparities. For Black women working full time, year round, the gap widened by 1 cent. Women are a cornerstone of the U.S. workforce, but they continue to earn less than men while facing the same rising costs for housing, groceries, gas, and other essentials,” said Sara Estep, an economist at the Center for American Progress and co-author of the analysis. “The gender wage gap translates directly into less money for not just women, but also their families to cover everyday expenses, build savings, and achieve long-term financial security.”
The analysis finds:
- Women working full time, year-round earned 84 cents for every $1 earned by men in 2025, narrowing the wage gap by 3 cents compared with 2024.
- Women working full time, year-round earned $11,620 less annually than men, while the earnings gap among all women workers was $13,760 less.
- Black and Hispanic women continued to experience some of the largest wage gaps. For every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men working full time, year-round, Black women earned 64 cents, Hispanic women earned 60 cents, white women earned 81 cents, and Asian women earned 99 cents.
- Progress toward closing the gender wage gap has remained slow. If the gap for full-time, year-round workers continues on the same trajectory seen from 2000 through 2025, women would not reach equal pay for another 45 years, or until 2071.
- The wage gap compounds broader affordability pressures. Women already play a disproportionate role in managing day-to-day household finances and are more likely than men to report that family expenses and monthly bills stand in the way of their financial progress.
Read the analysis: “Amid Rising Costs, the Gender Wage Gap Deepens Affordability Challenges for Women” by Amina Khalique and Sara Estep
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Christian Unkenholz at [email protected].