More than half of women in the U.S. tech sector — 60 percent — are being paid less than their male counterparts, according to research from recruitment firm Hired cited by CNBC.
Hired surveyed 2,600 technology workers across the U.S. through its website. The company highlighted Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle as major technology cities for further analysis.
Of the 60 percent of women who were being paid less than their male colleagues, 16 percent were being paid at least $20,000 less. The average gender pay gap in the U.S. technology sector sits at 3 percent, down from 4 percent in 2018.
The gap continues to rise for minorities. Hispanic women are paid 9 percent less than their white male counterparts. Black women are paid 89 cents for every dollar, and LGBTQ women are paid 8 percent less than white men.
Women in San Francisco averaged 6 percent less than men. Boston's pay gap was 9 percent, with no improvement from a year ago. Los Angeles, New York and Seattle all have an 8 percent gender pay gap in their technology sectors.
Women are not only paid less, they often feel discriminated against, they said. Hired reported 65 percent of women in the technology sector said they had been discriminated against in the workplace. Discrimination based on sexual orientation, race and age also was noted.
Steps are being taken to slash the pay gap and eliminate discrimination, according to CNBC. Technology companies are interviewing and recruiting more women, and women are beginning to ask for their salaries to be matched to male colleagues, the Hired report found.