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