Women’s share grows in U.S. manager, professional ranks: Pew Research
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES — Women are increasingly represented among America’s managers and professionals, according to a new analysis by Pew Research Center.
In 2023, women accounted for 46% of all managers, up from just 29% in 1980. This rise comes as women now make up 49% of the total workforce.
Pew defines managers as workers in 21 distinct management fields.
Surge in professional roles, yet pay gaps remain
Women’s presence is even stronger in professional and related roles, where they now constitute 58% of workers, up from 52% in 1980. These jobs encompass a diverse range of positions, including computer scientists, healthcare practitioners, and social service workers.
Overall, managers and professionals earn above-average wages; the median manager earned $86,000 in 2023, while professionals earned $65,000. Both figures outpace the median for all workers, which stands at $48,000.
Yet disparities persist within professional fields. In traditionally female-dominated professions, such as nursing, teaching, and social work, women now comprise 80% of the workforce. Wages in these fields lag behind, with a median income of $52,000, compared to $80,000 in historically male-dominated professional jobs, where women’s share has only recently climbed from 23% to 38% since 1980.
Education, skills help fuel progress
Experts attribute these gains to higher educational attainment. In 2023, women made up 53% of college-educated workers, a jump from 39% in 1980, and now surpass men. Many management and professional roles now require at least a bachelor’s degree.
Social skills have also become more valuable in the workplace, benefiting women’s advancement.
“Employees increasingly work in teams, and managers increasingly need social skills to succeed. Studies have found that women have an edge over men in jobs in which social skills are more important,” said Pew Research analysts. These social skills include tasks like negotiation, leadership, and communication.
Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in newer, high-paying professional fields such as software development and network administration, comprising just 33% in 2023.
Women’s impact on the upper ranks of the workforce continues to grow, with nearly 56 million workers classified as managers or professionals today, making up 38% of the workforce, up from 23% in 1980.
