Study: Mass. Women Face Big Earnings Gap

By Jason Claffey (Patch Staff)

Massachusetts lags behind many states when it comes to equal compensation for women, according to a new report.

WalletHub ranked each state in terms of women’s equality. Massachusetts came in at No. 13. The Bay State was lauded for its low unemployment rate for women but performed poorly in areas like equal compensation, coming in 21st.

“Many women today still struggle to crack the proverbial glass ceiling,” the report said. “And it doesn’t take a feminist to convince anyone that the gender gap in 21st-century America remains disgracefully wide. In 2013, the U.S. failed to make the top 10—or even the top 20—of the World Economic Forum’s list of the most gender-equal countries.”

In 2013, the average man with a full-time job in Massachusetts was paid $60,264 per year, while the average woman was paid $46,185, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families. Boston Magazine last year explored that gap.

In New England, Maine performed well on the WalletHub report, coming in at No. 4 overall. Hawaii was ranked No. 1.

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