Doctors earn most, unless female

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

physicians and surgeons earn the most of any occupation, but they have one of the widest gender gaps in pay of all jobs, especially in pennsylvania, a new census analysis shows.

philadelphia inquirer, june 3, 2004 (free registration)

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/8824590.htm

....while the earnings gap for women has improved markedly - from 53 percent of men's earnings in 1973 to 77 percent in 2002 - the census bureau noted that women still earned less in almost every income category.

the bureau cautioned, however, that the figures did not necessarily imply discrimination, even based on the idea that women and men of comparable experience in the same job should earn comparable pay.

differences in remuneration, the bureau said, often result from other "processes, such as free choice, geographic location, educational opportunities, industrial growth, culture, marriage and employment practices, gender-based preferences, the presence of unions, work history, and experience."

still, the gaps were stark from job to job, and state to state.

female physicians, nationwide, earned about 63 cents for each dollar earned by male physicians in 1999. in new jersey, they fared slightly better, earning 65 cents on the dollar.

but in pennsylvania, women made only 58 percent of what men earned, ranking the state 42d worst in pay inequality for physicians and surgeons...

:angryfire

[mattsmom81]

This doesn't surprise me. Women still have a ways to go don't we?

[oramar]

Differences in remuneration, the bureau said, often result from other "processes, such as free choice, geographic location, educational opportunities, industrial growth, culture, marriage and employment practices, gender-based preferences, the presence of unions, work history, and experience."

A factor that is not mentioned here is the fact that women gear down there careers when they have children. Some people have given this gearing down a name and call it the "mommy track". That is what the article is refering to when it says "free choice". Actually in many cases it is "no choice" because of lack of other options. Professional and family child care support is lacking, many man do not pick up there fair share if indeed they do anything at all. I salute men like my son in law who I see supporting my daughter very well and putting in at least 50 per cent of the child care. Between him and the older women in the family(including myself) my daughter is maintaining her career full steam ahead. She is making as much as her husband and advancing up the career ladder at same rate of speed as her husband because she gets such good support. Hers is a special case and she is very lucky because many women's career do not fare this well because they choose their children's welfare over their own upward mobility.