What is Equal Pay Day?

For too long, part time and seasonal workers have been excluded from the conversation about equal pay, creating an inaccurate picture of how dire the situation is, especially for women of color. That changes now.

We have generally observed Equal Pay Days based on the information calculated for full-time, year round workers only. However, starting in 2022, we decided to raise awareness about the wage gap for ALL workers. This includes data on part-time, seasonal, and gig workers, many of whom are essential workers piecing together multiple part-time jobs to get by. Their experience deserves to have a seat at the table.

What does pay inequality look like?

The average woman must work far into the next year to earn what the average man earns the previous year. If the gender wage gap were eliminated, the average woman would have enough additional money every year for:

  • An entire additional year of child care;

  • One year of tuition and fees for a 4-year public university, or the full cost of tuition and fees for a 2-year college;

  • More than 9 months of rent for the following year;

  • 7 months of health insurance (premiums through employer-based plans);

  • More than a year’s worth of food; OR

  • Enough money to pay off their student loan debt in under 4 years.

Equal Pay Day (Average women versus average men’s earnings)
78 cents for all earners*
84 cents for full time, year round earners

It’s much worse for women of color.

We observe different demographic equal pay days throughout the year to raise awareness about the harmful wage gaps faced by women of color as compared to their white non-Hispanic male counterparts.

AANHPI Women
80 cents for all earners*
93 cents for full time year round earners

Black Women
66 cents for all earners*
69 cents for full time, year round earners

Moms’ Equal Pay Day
62 cents across race and ethnicity compared to working fathers*
74 cents for full time, year round earners

Latina Women
52 cents for all earners*
57 cents for full time year round earners

Native and Indigenous Women
55 cents for all earners*
59 cents for full time year round earners

Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Women

60 cents for all earners*
66 cents for full time year round earners

*The numbers reflect the average wage gap for all workers (including those working full time, year-round as well those working part time and part year)