Research shows that the gender pay gap hasn’t changed much over the last two decades. According to national averages, women earn around 82% of what men earn.
This disparity has tangible consequences. The ability to make significant life purchases — a home, a car, or a college education — is a practical barometer for measuring the real-world effects of income inequality.
“On the surface these statistics can feel alarming. Is the income deck stacked against women? Legally, no. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 specifies that employers are prohibited from paying workers different incomes based on sex and other factors, such as race and ethnicity,” said CardRates.com Finance Expert Erica Sandberg.
“However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t earning disparities between the sexes,” Sandberg continued. “There are, and for a number of reasons. For example, many women stop working or drop down to part-time employment when they’re pregnant or are taking care of growing children. Both scenarios can put women at a financial disadvantage. Additionally, some men take on higher-paying jobs in more lucrative industries.”
We investigated the true impacts of the wage gap by analyzing median earnings by gender and comparing them to the cost of major life purchases. Whether it’s saving for a down payment on a home, purchasing a reliable vehicle, or investing in higher education, the delay in achieving these milestones impacts women’s economic stability and their ability to plan, grow, and thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Dive in to understand the full extent of the wage gap’s impact on women’s major life purchases.
How Men Outpace Women in Major Life Purchases
The disparity in earnings between men and women translates into real-world delays, affecting how quickly they can afford life’s major milestones.
When it comes to what is often one of life’s biggest purchases, owning a home, the financial journey could be longer for women. On average, a woman needs one year and three months longer than her male counterpart to save for a 20% down payment on a home. While it takes five years and nine months for the average man to save for a 20% down payment on a home, it would take seven years for the average woman.
Similarly, women find themselves needing an additional one month and 12 days to afford a 20% down payment on a used car compared to men. The average person could save for a car down payment in six months and 14 days on a man’s income, but it would take eight months and 26 days on a woman’s income.
To cover the average in-state tuition and fees for one academic year at a public four-year university, the average woman must work two months and two days longer than men. The gap widens further when considering out-of-state tuition. Women need an additional six months and two days compared to men to afford one year of out-of-state tuition and fees at a public four-year university.
Men Can Make Major Life Purchases 17.8% Faster Than Women
On average, men can make major life purchases — such as homes, cars, and college tuition — 17.8% faster than women, but of course, that can vary greatly depending on geographic location. This disparity can be influenced by regional variations in income levels, cost of living, and housing markets.
In some areas, higher wages or lower housing costs may narrow the gap, while in others, the difference in earnings between men and women can be more pronounced, exacerbating the disparity in purchasing power.
Utah currently has the largest discrepancy between men’s and women’s ability to afford major life purchases, with the gap widening to a staggering 39.2% — the largest among all states. Here’s a snapshot of how that impacts saving timelines on a woman’s wage in Utah (compared to a man’s):
- Home down payment – an extra six years and four months
- Car down payment – an extra five months and 27 days
- Annual in-state tuition – an extra seven months and 14 days
- Annual out-of-state tuition – an extra year, 11 months, and 12 days
Louisiana, Idaho, and Alabama also display significant disparities, with gaps of 35.6%, 35.1% and 32.9%, respectively.
Conversely, Vermont showcases the smallest, but still significant, gap at 17.0%. This reduces the difference in how long it takes women to save for key milestones in Vermont to:
- Home down payment – an extra year and seven months
- Car down payment – an extra two months and 16 days
- Annual in-state tuition – an extra four months and 13 days
- Annual out-of-state tuition – an extra 11 months and 22 days
Other states with comparable margins include New Mexico (17.3%), Nevada (18.9%), and Delaware (19.1%), rounding out the states with the smallest relative gaps overall.
A Closer Look at the Gender Pay Gap, State by State
Utah, Louisiana, Idaho, and Alabama lead in gender pay disparity. In Utah, women earn just 60.8% of what men make, with a median annual income of $33,167 compared to $54,516 for men. Louisiana follows closely, where women earn 64.5% of men’s earnings. This pattern is consistent in Idaho and Alabama, where women’s earnings are 64.9% and 67.1% of men’s, respectively.
On the other end of the spectrum, states like Vermont, New Mexico, and Nevada have the smallest gender pay gaps. In Vermont, women earn 83% of what men earn, while in New Mexico and Nevada, women earn 82.7% and 81.1%, respectively.
Closing Thoughts
Understanding the impact of the gender wage gap on major life purchases highlights the financial challenges many women face. By recognizing these disparities, we can better advocate for equitable wages and smarter financial planning.
“When women earn less than their male counterparts they have less cash available for spending and saving. It impacts everything from homeownership goals to consumer choices to educational opportunities,” Sandberg said. “As an individual, whether male or female, it is important to make financial decisions that will enhance your life. Look into occupations that pay enough to support your wants and needs. Prepare for upcoming events, too. If you do want to stay home with the kids, save as much as possible first.”
For deeper insights into managing your finances and making savvy credit decisions, check out our credit card guides. With expert advice and a wealth of resources, CardRates helps you navigate the complexities of personal finance and reach your financial goals.
Methodology
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, we first examined the median annual earnings of men and women to find the gender pay gap in each state. Then, we compared average income to the cost of key life purchases, including a down payment on a home, a car, and college tuition.
We collected the median home price in each state from Redfin and the median used car price in each state from iSeeCars and calculated the cost of a 20% down payment for each. We also analyzed the average cost of one year of tuition at a public university (both in-state and out-of-state) according to CollegeBoard. We estimated the time required for each gender to save for a 20% down payment for each major purchase by assuming individuals save 20% of their annual income. Finally, we found the gender disparity in time required to afford these purchases, both by state and nationally.
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