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2025 Census data shows narrowing wage gap for some women, but doesn’t reflect lived reality of women and families in 2026
Statement from Noreen Farrell, Executive Director of Equal Rights Advocates on Census data released today that shows a narrowing of the wage gap for some women, but does not account for the spiraling cost of living crisis affecting people in 2026 or the full impact of federal rollbacks. New polling shows voters want action from policymakers to stem the crisis.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15, 2026 – Today’s 2025 Census data shows median earnings rose 3.2% for women overall in 2025, but that the wage gap grew larger for certain demographic groups. While the wage gap for women overall appears to show progress on paper, it does not reflect the reality women are living in today.
The 2025 data shows that the pay gap for the average Black woman working full-time, year-round worsened a full percentage point from the prior year, from 65 cents on the dollar earned by white men to 64 cents. The gap worsened from 54 to 53 cents to the dollar for all Latina wage earners.
In light of the persistent gap, women—particularly women of color—struggle to afford basic necessities including gas, rent, groceries, utilities, childcare and family care costs. Women have faced disproportionately high unemployment for more than a year, often due to caregiving pressures, which will potentially further impact women’s earnings in the future.
People are feeling real economic pain in 2026, which is why a new poll from ERA’s c4, Equal Rights Advocates Action Fund, found equal pay for women, higher wages, and access to affordable child and elder care have become top-of-mind issues for people being crushed by the skyrocketing cost of living.
Supermajorities across party lines, gender and income levels see higher wages and equal pay for women as a way to address the high cost of living: 84% want Congress to raise wages, and 78% want equal pay for women treated as a priority. They also say they will vote for candidates who support these policies.
The simple reality is that the wage gap persists. Women working full-time, year-round, still only make 84 cents for every dollar when compared to men working fulltime, year-round. All women earners, including part-time and part-year workers, earn 78 cents for every dollar paid to all male earners. And these figures likely do not reflect the full impact of the Trump Administration’s assaults on working women.
We cannot let incremental earnings improvements for some women keep us from taking bold action to address the affordability issues all women and families are facing. The persistent wage gap is what is making it harder for families to afford the necessities of daily life today. Our leaders must act aggressively on kitchen table solutions to the high cost of living by passing policies that support equal pay for women and increase wages. Voters are demanding it and our economy needs it.
To speak with equal pay experts from Equal Rights Advocates, contact Nazirah Ahmad at (704) 290-6869 or nazirah@emccommunications.com.
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About Equal Rights Advocates
Equal Rights Advocates fights for gender justice in workplaces and schools across the country. Since 1974, they have been fighting on the front lines of social justice to protect and advance rights and opportunities for women, girls, and people of all gender identities through groundbreaking legal cases and bold legislation that sets the stage for the rest of the nation.