On average, women globally are paid less than men for the same work. However, while the gender pay gap is an ongoing issue, there are some professions where women earn more than men. We take a look at 12 careers where women tend to earn more than men :
Community and Civil Enforcement Officers
In many parts of the country, women in roles like parking enforcement officers, animal control workers, and bailiffs earn more than their male counterparts. Indeed, women in these positions may earn up to 29% more than men, possibly because fewer men are in these roles.
Welfare Professional
Welfare professions, including social workers and counselors, often see women earning up to 21% more than men. Like community officers, more women are likely to work in welfare as the skills required are seen as oriented towards women. There are still many stereotypes about men working in caring roles, so those who do work in the industry tend to go under the radar when it comes to promotion.
Biological Scientists
Some studies show that women in biology, microbiology, and biochemistry might earn up to 21% more than men in those areas. Women in biology might be more concentrated in specific subfields with higher earning potential. For example, there could be a higher proportion of women in genetics or biotechnology.
Human Resources Managers
While HR leadership positions are still dominated by men, women in HR management roles can see earnings exceeding men’s by up to 20%. Women in HR leadership roles might have more experience on average compared to their male counterparts. They could have specialized in specific HR areas like compensation and benefits or talent management, which can be high-demand and well-compensated. The higher pay rates for women in HR could also be due to their understanding of legalities around flexible working and gender inequality, so they push for at least equal pay to men.
Special Needs Education Teaching Professionals
Studies suggest women in SPED may earn up to 17% more than their male colleagues. This is a significant difference compared to the overall gender pay gap. One reason for this is traditional, nurturing, and caregiving roles have been associated with femininity, with women being attracted to the field due to these societal expectations. While men enter the SEN education field, they may not do it for as long, so they don’t raise the pay scales as women do.
Personal Assistants and Executive Secretaries
While secretarial roles might not be at the forefront of high-paying careers, experienced executive assistants and PAs can command up to 17% higher salaries than men in similar positions. As a woman traditionally carries out these roles, it would explain why women are at the top of the game in this field.
Occupational Therapists
Women in occupational therapy can potentially earn up to 13% more than men in this healthcare profession. Occupational therapy, focusing on helping patients regain independence and improve their daily lives, may align with the perception that women are better caregivers. However, for specialist occupational therapy positions, such as hand therapy or pediatrics, the overall pattern of the gender pay gap likely comes into play.
Publicans and Managers of Licensed Premises
Female pub owners, bar managers, and other hospitality leaders can earn up to 11% more than men in the same roles. Women are thought to make up 55% of the hospitality workforce and stay longer in the role, meaning there is a greater chance of them becoming supervisors and managers.
Dancers and Choreographers
While not the most typical high-paying profession, female dancers and choreographers can potentially earn up to 6% more than their male counterparts. This is potentially because females dominate the field, and there is a higher demand for female dancers in specific dance styles, such as contemporary or ballet, which can translate to higher salaries. New learners may also prefer working with women rather than men, so women have higher-paid teaching roles.
Order Clerks
In general, order clerks earn a similar amount of money regardless of sex, but there is a slight difference in senior roles. Some evidence shows that women earn more than men in senior roles. Order clerking roles have traditionally been seen as suitable for women. Thus, women have been in this role longer to earn higher pay.
Archivists and Curators
Archivists and curators are information professionals who preserve and manage historical and cultural collections. While not all female archivists and curators earn more than men, over 66% do in the U.S. It could be that there are more women in these roles rather than that they are seen as more deserving than men.
15 Cheap Drugstore Makeup That’s Better Than Department Store
