5 States With Biggest Gender Wage Gaps

2. New Hampshire

Difference in Earnings: -$16,686

In 2022, the average female worker earned 82 cents for every dollar earned by men in median hourly wages. The gender pay gap, barely changed in the last 20 years, widened to 76 cents in New Hampshire, according to the 2023 Status of Women report. The discrepancy is stark, particularly for women of color, with Hispanic and African American women earning 63 cents on the dollar. This persistent gap challenges the notion of meritocracy and highlights the need for policy changes to address economic inequities.

Despite women’s major contributions in education, including outperforming boys in reading and increasingly excelling in math, their earnings still lag behind. The widening gap, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the urgency for societal investment in areas like childcare and healthcare.