• Issues
  • Equitable Work and Wages

    • Earnings by Educational Attainment

    Educational attainment refers to the highest level of education an individual has completed.

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    Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    This chart depicts the earnings of women who have completed less than a high school degree and work full-time year-round (FTYR) as a percentage of the earnings of men with the same education and employment. Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    This chart depicts the earnings of women who have completed a high school degree or equivalent, and work full-time year-round (FTYR) as a percentage of the earnings of men with the same education and employment. Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    This chart depicts the earnings of women who have completed some college or an Associate's Degree, and work full-time year-round (FTYR) as a percentage of the earnings of men with the same education and employment. Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    This chart depicts the earnings of women who have completed a Bachelor's Degree, and work full-time year-round (FTYR) as a percentage of the earnings of men with the same education and employment. Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.
    This chart depicts the earnings of women who have completed a Graduate Degree or higher, and work full-time year-round (FTYR) as a percentage of the earnings of men with the same education and employment. Data represent individuals aged 25 and above. Data source: American Community Survey, 2019-2023.

    Policy

    Updated July 25, 2025
    Salary transparency laws that require employers to disclose the compensation range for job postings can help close the gender wage gap.
    Salary history bans that prohibit employers from inquiring about an applicant's prior compensation or using it to justify a pay discrepancy can contribute to closing the gender and racial wage gaps.
    State minimum wage laws set the wage floor for the hourly rate that employers can compensate workers, and because women are overrepresented in low-wage jobs, they are more likely to live in poverty.
    Workplace antidiscrimination laws prohibit disparate treatment of workers on the basis of sex or gender, gender identity, race, religion, family or marital status, pregnancy status, disability, or other protected class.
    As the costs of higher education soar, states have implemented affordability measures to create free access to community college for eligible students.
    A student loan borrower bill of rights protects students from predatory lending practices with licensing requirements and transparency measures, and can lessen the burden of student debt.

    State policy or data requests?

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    Hotline statepal@iwpr.org