The labour market has altered dramatically in the preceding few decades. Women’s labour force participation has gone sky-up and they are receiving college degrees and graduate degrees at faster rates as compared to men, but still the gender wage gap is improving at a slow speed.
However, the statistic depicting women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn rely on a summary of all pay, for all jobs across industries. Whereas it doesn’t account for factors like women accepting to work in lower-paying industries like healthcare or teaching.
PayScale’s study of compensation for full-time, private-sector employees in normally male-dominated industries shows five careers that pay equal or somewhat higher salary for women.
1. Systems Engineer
Female Median Annual Salary: $72,300
Male Median Annual Salary: $71,500
Systems engineering is on a go particularly in technology centres like Silicon Valley. Many engineers’ possess undergraduate degrees in computer science or math and work at different companies and having flexible schedules. Since IT is a comparatively new profession, less discrimination against women is observed.
2. Electrical Engineer
Female Median Annual Salary: $66,000
Male Median Annual Salary: $66,000
Electrical engineers apart from working on power generators; also test equipment and design new and better electronics for lighting, wiring in buildings, and for radar and navigation systems. Since, such industries are prone to be unionized; this assists in pay being more equitable.
3. Mechanical Engineer
Female Median Annual Salary: $61,100
Male Median Annual Salary: $60,400
Mechanical engineers create better car engines, steam and gas turbines, air conditioners, elevators and escalators, and also the robots used in manufacturing. A four-year degree is normally needed to start. Data from the Engineering Workforce Commission states that 2.24 percent more women earned BS degrees in mechanical engineering in 2011 than in five years before.
4. Videographer
Female Median Annual Salary: $39,300
Male Median Annual Salary: $38,800
Video-camera operators shoot video for television programs, music videos, motion pictures, documentaries and training sessions. Women are encouraged to enrol in this profession to take advantage of scholarship opportunities specifically meant for women only.
5. Computer Repair Technician
Female Median Annual Salary: $31,500
Male Median Annual Salary: $31,500
Schools that offer certificate and associate’s degree programs in computer repair domain are recruiting more women. Also, repair technicians can earn degrees online and have flexible work schedules. So, with increased opportunities to work from home, this field is more attractive to working moms.
