Women in California earn an average of 13 percent less than men

Women in California still earn less on average than men in the state. That’s one of the findings of a report out today from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. But women in California actually fare better than women in most other states.

You’ve come a long way baby but not far enough!

The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that last year women in California who worked full-time earned a median weekly wage of $738, while California men with full-time jobs earned $852. That’s 13 percent more.

But the gender wage gap in California is actually smaller than the national average.
Nationwide the study found men earn 20 percent more than women.

Tom Zhu with the Western Office of the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says one of the main reasons California women fare better is that more work in higher paying industries—such as the high-tech and finance industries. California also has more cities with a higher cost of living and employers tend to compensate accordingly.

The only state where women fared a lot better than in California was in the District of Columbia. There women earned 8 percent less than men. But it’s a lot colder there this time of year.