Seventy-two percent of American women are dissatisfied with their pay rates, according to a recent survey by Gallup. Since women still only make 77 cents to every dollar that a man makes, finding a good job with fair pay is often a major goal.
Some geographical locations are better at providing earnings equity between male and female workers than others, paving the way for greater economic security.
In its 2013 study, “The State of Women in America,” the Center for American Progress took a comprehensive look at states across the country and ranked them based on 36 factors related to economic security, health factors and the role women played in governmental and workplace leadership roles. The comprehensive report gleaned data from such sources as the U.S. Census Bureau, the Center for American Women and Politics, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Economic Policy Institute, among others, to draw its conclusions.
Taking all 36 factors into account, some states rose well above others in regard to all three main factors. The best states for women for overall, when economic, health and leadership factors are considered were:
- Maryland
- Hawaii
- Vermont
- California
- Delaware
Those five dates all earned A grades based on the ranking factors. A number of states earned F ratings overall. They are:
- Georgia
- Indiana
- South Dakota
- Arkansas
- Texas
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Oklahoma
- Utah
- Louisiana
Study authors also paid close attention to the wage gap between men and women in all 50 states. Nationally, the study authors estimated that women earn 77 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. This is despite the fact that an estimated 4 in 10 mothers now serve as the primary breadwinners for their families.
As it was with the overall rankings, some states are simply better than others in offering equity. The states with the lowest wage gap, when what a woman earns is compared to every dollar a white male makes are:
- Nevada – 85 cents
- Vermont- 85 cents
- California – 84 cents
- New York – 84 cents
- Florida – 84 cents
- Arizona – 83 cents
- Hawaii – 83 cents
- Maine – 83 cents
- Georgia – 81 cents
- Rhode Island – 81 cents
States with the largest earnings gap between women overall and their male counterparts were:
- Wyoming – 64 cents
- Louisiana – 67 cents
- West Virginia – 70 cents
- Indiana – 73 cents
- Alaska – 74 cents
- Michigan – 74 cents
While the role of women has changed dramatically over the past few decades, the playing field has yet to level. As the study’s authors conclude, “much remains to be done in order to achieve greater freedom, fairness, and equality for all.”
