Gender Pay Gap Across America: Vermont Ranks Best as Utah Reports the Widest Earnings Difference
Women continue to earn less than men across the United States, but the size of the difference varies considerably depending on where they live. A recent analysis based on U.S. Census Bureau data identifies Vermont as the state with the smallest reported gender earnings gap, while Utah has the largest.
According to the analysis, women in Vermont earn approximately 84.4 cents for every dollar earned by men, compared with 61.2 cents in Utah. The reported annual difference between women's and men's median earnings ranges from $7,411 in Vermont to $20,163 in Utah.
The findings highlight differences in earnings outcomes across the country and raise important questions about economic opportunity, employment patterns, and the factors that influence women's earnings.
However, the figures should be interpreted carefully. The analysis attributes its findings to American Community Survey data covering 2021 through 2024, but its full methodology and complete state rankings have not been independently verified. The reported differences also measure median earnings, not necessarily differences in pay between women and men performing identical work.
Vermont Has the Smallest Reported Gender Earnings Gap
Vermont tops the analysis's ranking of states with the smallest gender earnings gaps. Women's median annual earnings are listed at $40,251, compared with $47,662 for men.
The resulting difference is $7,411 a year. Based on these figures, women earn approximately 84.4 cents for every dollar earned by men.
Maryland ranks second, with women earning a median of $47,703 annually and men earning $59,596. The reported annual difference is $11,893, placing women's earnings at approximately 80 cents per dollar earned by men.
Rhode Island takes third place. The analysis lists women's median annual earnings at $40,891 and men's at $51,422, producing an annual difference of $10,531.
Alaska and Delaware complete the top five. In Alaska, women's median earnings are reported at $41,282, compared with $52,056 for men. Delaware's figures are $39,197 for women and $49,431 for men.
These comparisons show that a relatively smaller earnings gap does not necessarily mean women have the highest earnings in absolute terms. The relationship between women's and men's median earnings is different from the overall level of wages in a state.
The 10 States With the Smallest Reported Gender Pay Gaps
The following table presents the figures supplied in the original analysis. The amounts and rankings should be checked against the underlying Census Bureau data before being treated as definitive.
| Rank | State | Women's Median Earnings | Men's Median Earnings | Annual Earnings Gap | Women's Earnings per $1 Earned by Men |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $40,251 | $47,662 | $7,411 | 84.4 cents |
| 2 | Maryland | $47,703 | $59,596 | $11,893 | 80.0 cents |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $40,891 | $51,422 | $10,531 | 79.5 cents |
| 4 | Alaska | $41,282 | $52,056 | $10,774 | 79.3 cents |
| 5 | Delaware | $39,197 | $49,431 | $10,234 | 79.3 cents |
| 6 | New York | $42,480 | $53,603 | $11,123 | 79.2 cents |
| 7 | Maine | $37,926 | $48,133 | $10,207 | 78.8 cents |
| 8 | Nevada | $35,898 | $45,605 | $9,707 | 78.7 cents |
| 9 | Arizona | $38,076 | $48,419 | $10,343 | 78.6 cents |
| 10 | Florida | $35,251 | $45,310 | $10,059 | 77.8 cents |
Source: Figures supplied in the original analysis. The complete dataset and methodology have not been independently verified.
Utah Reports the Widest Earnings Gap
At the opposite end of the ranking, Utah records the largest reported difference between women's and men's median annual earnings.
The analysis estimates that women earn 61.2 cents for every dollar earned by men in the state. It also reports an annual earnings difference of $20,163.
The size of this difference makes Utah an important case for further investigation into the factors affecting women's economic outcomes.
However, the figures do not establish that employers in Utah pay women 38.8 percent less than men for performing the same work. Median earnings comparisons cover the earnings of groups of people and can reflect differences in occupations, working hours, experience, education, seniority, and employment patterns.
A more detailed assessment would need to examine these factors and distinguish differences associated with the composition of the workforce from disparities that remain after comparable workers and jobs are considered.
What Does the Gender Pay Gap Actually Measure?
The term gender pay gap is often used to describe the difference between women's and men's earnings. However, the meaning of the statistic depends on the population being studied and the method used to calculate it.
A comparison of median annual earnings measures the difference between the middle earnings values for women and men in a defined population. It does not necessarily compare employees doing the same job, working the same number of hours, or having similar professional experience.
For example, a state with more men employed in high-paying industries and more women working in lower-paying occupations could show a substantial overall earnings gap. That result would not, by itself, establish that every employer in the state pays women less than men for equivalent work.
At the same time, the fact that a statistic does not prove unequal pay for identical work does not mean the earnings difference is unimportant. Differences in access to higher-paying occupations, career advancement, working hours, and family responsibilities can all affect long-term earnings.
Researchers must examine these factors separately to understand why the gap exists and which policies might help reduce it.
How the Census Bureau Data Should Be Interpreted
The original analysis attributes its findings to Table S2001 of the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), covering 2021 through 2024.
The ACS collects information about income and earnings across American households and provides estimates that can be analyzed by state and other geographic areas.
However, the reference to four years of data requires clarification. The Census Bureau publishes annual estimates and multiyear estimates, and these datasets are not interchangeable. A four-year calculation, a single-year estimate, and an average of several annual figures can produce different results.
The analysis should therefore specify which estimates were used, which population was included, and how the reported ratios and annual earnings differences were calculated.
The Census Bureau's earnings tables also provide information about statistical uncertainty. When comparing states, researchers should consider margins of error rather than assuming every small difference in the rankings represents a meaningful underlying difference.
Readers can consult the Census Bureau's American Community Survey earnings table S2001 and its guidance on comparing ACS data for further information.
Why the National Earnings Gap May Differ From State Estimates
The original report states that women earn approximately 74 cents for every dollar earned by men nationally. That figure requires additional methodological context before it can be compared directly with other widely cited gender pay gap statistics.
Different studies use different definitions of workers and earnings. Some compare annual earnings among full-time, year-round workers, while others use a broader population or different measures of income.
For context, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that women working full-time, year-round earned 83.9 percent of men's median earnings in 2025. This is a specific measure and should not be treated as directly equivalent to the 74-cent figure in the original analysis without confirming that both statistics use comparable populations and calculations.
The distinction matters because a headline number can create a misleading impression if readers are not told which workers are included.
A reliable national comparison should identify the year, earnings measure, worker population, and source table. It should also explain whether the statistic represents median earnings or an adjusted comparison intended to account for differences between workers and jobs.
What Could Help Narrow the Gender Earnings Gap?
Reducing differences in women's and men's earnings requires an understanding of the factors contributing to those differences.
Greater pay transparency can help employees understand compensation practices and identify potential inconsistencies. Clear salary ranges, documented promotion criteria, and regular compensation reviews can also help employers evaluate whether their pay practices are fair.
Access to training and advancement opportunities may be important as well. If women are underrepresented in certain higher-paying occupations or senior leadership positions, improving access to professional development and promotion pathways could influence earnings over time.
Family responsibilities are another factor worth examining. Career interruptions, reduced working hours, and limited access to affordable child care can affect lifetime earnings and opportunities for advancement. Workplace arrangements that allow employees to balance professional and family responsibilities may help reduce some of these barriers.
Nevertheless, no single policy can be assumed to explain or eliminate the earnings gap in every state. Effective solutions depend on reliable evidence about local labor markets, industries, occupations, and employment conditions.
Why State-by-State Comparisons Matter
State-level comparisons can help policymakers, employers, researchers, and workers identify differences that deserve further attention.
A state with a relatively small earnings gap may offer useful questions for further research about its workforce, industries, employment patterns, and policies. Similarly, a state with a larger gap may benefit from closer examination of occupational segregation, access to advancement, working hours, and compensation practices.
But rankings should not be interpreted as a complete measure of gender equality. A state's position can change depending on the population studied, the earnings measure selected, and the year of the data.
For that reason, state rankings are most useful when combined with detailed analysis rather than treated as a definitive judgment about the fairness of every workplace within a state.
Conclusion
The reported figures place Vermont at the top of the ranking for the smallest gender earnings gap and Utah at the opposite end, with a substantially larger difference between women's and men's median earnings.
The findings underscore the importance of examining earnings differences across the United States and understanding the factors that shape economic opportunities for women and men.
However, the figures should be regarded as provisional until the full methodology and state-level dataset have been independently checked against the appropriate Census Bureau estimates. Clear definitions, comparable data, and careful interpretation are essential to determining what the numbers reveal about the gender earnings gap—and what further research is needed to explain it.
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