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Computer programmers, the media and casual observers alike often debate the question ofwhy there are so few women programmers compared to men. Indeed, only 19 percent of computer science majors are female, which directly corresponds to the proportion of programmers who are female:20 percent.
Whatever the reasons for the gender disparity in programming, however, actual salary differences have nothing to do with fueling that gap, simply because they do not exist. According to a new study by the American Association of University Women, there is no statistical difference between female and male programmers' salaries. The same holds true for women who go into engineering, mathematics and physical sciences.
Here's Quartz on the resesarch:
The study authors did find that, on average, women in fields like programming earn 6.6 percent less than men (a Bureau of Labor Statistics study showed that women actually earn 11 percent more, however).
Read more here.
Whatever the reasons for the gender disparity in programming, however, actual salary differences have nothing to do with fueling that gap, simply because they do not exist. According to a new study by the American Association of University Women, there is no statistical difference between female and male programmers' salaries. The same holds true for women who go into engineering, mathematics and physical sciences.
Here's Quartz on the resesarch:
[The study] examined data on approximately 15,000 graduates to estimate the effect of gender on wages. Their sample was restricted to those under 35 years old receiving a first bachelor’s degree, in order to avoid confounding factors which affect labor market outcomes. Regression analysis was used to estimate wage differences, after controlling for the following choices and characteristics: graduates’ occupation, economic sector, hours worked, employment status (having multiple jobs as opposed to one full-time job), months unemployed since graduation, grade point average, undergraduate major, kind of institution attended, age, geographical region, and marital status.
The study authors did find that, on average, women in fields like programming earn 6.6 percent less than men (a Bureau of Labor Statistics study showed that women actually earn 11 percent more, however).
Read more here.
