In which healthcare jobs do women earn more money compared to men?

The gender pay gap has existed as long as women have been in work. Despite progress, women earn less than men for the same work; the Department of Labor notes that women are paid an average of 83.7% as much as men.

With Equal Pay Day in March raising awareness of income disparities, a recent study by Tebra sheds light on the gender pay gap within the vast healthcare industry. Their analysis of salary data from graduates of the top 100 US universities reveals that women are actually earning more than men in many cases.

A breakdown of the healthcare data

Tebra used the top 100 universities and then looked at median salaries earned 4 years after graduation. The study identifies the highest-paying healthcare jobs for women: surgeons and nurse anesthetists, commanding average salaries of $250,000 and $181,130 respectively. Due to how the data is reported it is not clear if there is a wage gap as the Census reports the wage as “$250,000+”, while nurse anaethetists earn on average 4.7% less than men in the same role.

“In the realm of healthcare, our study reveals a significant shift: women are beginning to out-earn men. This shift challenges traditional gender norms and underscores the remarkable progress toward gender equality in professional settings,” said Merritt Ryan, a Data Journalist at Tebra. “It’s a paradigm shift that not only reshapes perceptions but also reflects the tangible strides women are making in traditionally male-dominated fields.”

A very intriguing finding is the significant pay advantage for women graduates at certain institutions. For example, female graduates from Northwestern University earn a remarkable 52% more than their male counterparts. Nine other universities have women out-earning men by between 46% and 10%.

“This study’s findings serve as a testament to the resilience and capability of women in the healthcare workforce, marking a pivotal moment in the journey toward true gender parity and inclusivity,” Ryan continued. “As we celebrate these achievements, it’s imperative to ensure that all professionals, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to shaping the future of healthcare.”

The study identifies Yale, Georgetown, and UCLA as universities where women in healthcare fields earn the most upon graduation, with salaries exceeding $100,000 at Yale.

[Edit: Information regarding gender pay gap for surgeons was corrected with information from Department of Labor]