Gender and racial pay gaps are not simply a function of voluntary occupational choice: Average hourly wages of black women and white men by occupation
| Occupation | Black women | White men |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants/auditors | $27.51 | $39.23 |
| Customer service reps | 15.07 | 19.89 |
| Teachers | 25.65 | 30.50 |
| Financial managers | 27.61 | 47.93 |
| Lawyers | 43.00 | 54.94 |
| Physicians/surgeons | 36.94 | 54.94 |
| Registered nurses | 26.40 | 31.64 |
| Retail salespersons | 10.99 | 20.12 |
| Social workers | 22.81 | 27.09 |
| Software developers | 32.84 | 46.33 |
Note: Hourly wages shown are 2012 to 2016 averages from the Current Population Survey. Teacher category includes elementary and middle school teachers.
Source: Adapted from Figure B in Valerie Wilson, Janelle Jones, Kayla Blado, and Elise Gould, “Black Women Have to Work 7 Months into 2017 to Be Paid the Same as White Men in 2016,” Working Economics (Economic Policy Institute blog), July 28, 2017.