New Data Shows Women Still Earn Just 81 Cents on the Dollar, With Steeper Gaps for Black Women and Latinas

March 30, 2026

New data from the National Women's Law Center reveals that the gender wage gap in the United States has worsened, with women working full-time earning only 81 cents for every dollar men make in 2024, resulting in a median annual loss of $13,570. The disparity is significantly more severe for women of color, as Black women earn approximately 65 cents and Latinas earn just 58 cents compared to white non-Hispanic men in full-time positions. Over a 40-year career, these gaps translate to staggering lifetime losses of over $1.

Who is affected

Women working full-time and part-time across all 50 states
Black women (earning 65 cents on the dollar for full-time work)
Latinas (earning 58 cents on the dollar for full-time work)
White, non-Hispanic women (earning 77 cents on the dollar)
Mothers working full-time (earning 74 cents for every dollar paid to fathers)
Families headed by single mothers living in poverty (43.3% in D.C., 22.7% in Maryland, 26.1% in Virginia)
Women workers in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia regions
Women with disabilities (mentioned as experiencing extended Equal Pay Day)

What action is being taken

Rep. Rosa DeLauro and the Democratic Women's Caucus are advocating for wage equity on Equal Pay Day 2026
Congressional leaders and activists are protesting in support of closing the wage gap
Rep. Robin Kelly is advocating for compensation and employment equity, particularly for women of color

Why it matters

The widening wage gap has serious economic consequences for families that increasingly depend on women's earnings to cover essential expenses like housing, childcare, and groceries. The disparities result in substantial lifetime financial losses—up to $1.3 million for Latinas over a 40-year career—which perpetuate cycles of poverty, particularly for families headed by single mothers. The persistent inequality across all industries, education levels, and occupations demonstrates that systemic discrimination affects women regardless of their qualifications or career choices, undermining economic security for a significant portion of American families and threatening the principle of equal pay for equal work.

What's next

Rep. Rosa DeLauro stated she will continue fighting until Congress passes the Paycheck Fairness Act to end the wage disparity. Last year, DeLauro and Sen. Patty Murray introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act in hopes of strengthening the Equal Pay Act of 1963.

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer