The Wisconsin Women’s Council remains committed to addressing wage inequality through policy research, public awareness, and partnerships that support equal pay and economic opportunity for all women. Charts and data from Working Wisconsin, A Project of the High Road Strategy Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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Wage Gap Overview
- Despite gains over the decades, Wisconsin women continue to earn less than men, and the gap is substantially worse for women of color:
- In 2024, in Wisconsin, men’s median wage – $27.05 – exceeded women’s median of $22.98 by more than $4 per hour. Men’s wages are 15% higher than women’s wages.
- White women have made the most significant gains, while Black, Latina, Native, and other women of color continue to experience significantly lower wages, often below the statewide median.
Resources:
- Department of Workforce Development (DWD) enforces the Wisconsin Fair Employment Law, which prohibits pay discrimination based on sex, race, and other protected classes.
- Summit Credit Union Equity in Money—Summit helps women and all members build wealth and make good financial decisions. Summit focuses on the financial well-being of women because they face unique challenges on their path to financial security – such as living longer, saving less, and earning less over their lifetimes.
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) is the nation’s leading organization for equity in higher education and women’s economic empowerment. The AAUS offers the Empowering Women Through Innovative Programs that are specifically designed to address these challenges. Webinars/trainings offered:
- AAUW Work Smart- Know Your Value and Get Paid– Training for early and mid-career professionals on negotiating for fair salaries, better benefits, and advancement opportunities.
- AAUW Start Smart– AAUW Start Smart is specifically designed for college women entering the job market, teaching effective salary negotiation techniques to boost your confidence and negotiation skills.
- AAUW Money Smart– The AAUW Money Smart program is aimed at providing all women with the personal finance information they need to ensure their own financial security.