Healthcare gender pay gap by job, education

Gender pay gaps among healthcare workers are growing in complexity, and there are clear distinctions based on education level and specific occupation.

This finding is from researchers from the Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota and Seattle-based University of Washington, which examined the industry's pay gaps across occupational and educational groups from 2003 to 2021. 

Their research, published in Health Affairs Scholar in January, showed that the gender wage gap was widest for physicians (70%) and advanced practitioners (68%), and narrowest among community-based workers (96%) and registered nurses (82%), with therapists, LPNs, aides/assistants, and technicians clustered together at approximately 80% in 2021. 

Their research, which includes control variables such as age, underrepresented minority and immigrant status, marital status, part-time status and distinction of rural or non-urban areas, showed that the gender wage gap improved between 2003 and 2021 for therapists (43% change), physicians (41% change) and advanced practitioners (36% change), and widened during that period among those with lower levels of education, including those with a high school degree (-6% change). Read more about the specific findings here and here

Below are the average annual wage and salary income for women and men by education and occupation. 

2003

Physicians

Men: $252,437
Women: $119,675

Advanced practice, excluding RNs

Men: $129,802
Women: $69,722

RNs, including APRN

Men: $74,306
Women: $60,217

Therapists

Men: $53,922
Women: $32,943

Technicians

Men: $66,851
Women: $43,196

LPN/LVN

Men: $39,584
Women: $39,649

Aides and assistants

Men: $27,108
Women: $26,704

Community-based workers 

Men: $57,326
Women: $43,652

Less than high school

Men: $51,181
Women: $20,894

High school diploma or equivalent

Men: $41,767
Women: $29,001

Some college

Men: $46,435
Women: $34,099

Associate's degree

Men: $60,218
Women: $46,184

Bachelor's degree

Men: $79,825
Women: $56,756

Master's degree

Men: $103,854
Women: $68,039

Professional school/doctorate

Men: $206,931
Women: $97,735

2012

Physicians

Men: $196,218
Women: $131,080

Advanced practice, excluding RNs

Men: $125,219
Women: $72,700

RNs, including APRN

Men: $72,524
Women: $64,582

Therapists

Men: $63,103
Women: $35,398

Technicians

Men: $53,774
Women: $41,367

LPN/LVN

Men: $48,634
Women: $38,740

Aides and assistants

Men: $28,081
Women: $23,724

Community-based workers 

Men: $48,985
Women: $43,144

Less than high school

Men: $30,602
Women: $18,057

High school diploma or equivalent

Men: $32,966
Women: $26,898

Some college

Men: $43,670
Women: $30,326

Associate's degree

Men: $64,029
Women: $43,405

Bachelor's degree

Men: $65,012
Women: $56,760

Master's degree

Men: $92,505
Women: $64,486

Professional school/doctorate

Men: $168,513
Women: $98,796

2021

Physicians

Men: $245,039
Women: $164,099

Advanced practice, excluding RNs

Men: $109,349
Women: $81,976

RNs, including APRN

Men: $88,667
Women: $69,201

Therapists

Men: $56,380
Women: $51,501

Technicians

Men: $64,524
Women: $45,993

LPN/LVN

Men: $57,502
Women: $46,925

Aides and assistants

Men: $35,574
Women: $27,862

Community-based workers 

Men: $49,138
Women: $50,564

Less than high school

Men: $54,094
Women: $26,688

High school diploma or equivalent

Men: $38,444
Women: $29,070

Some college

Men: $40,630
Women: $29,303

Associate's degree

Men: $57,336
Women: $45,216

Bachelor's degree

Men: $71,470
Women: $61,186

Master's degree

Men: $94,542
Women: $68,410

Professional school/doctorate

Men: $186,320
Women: $122,311

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