The gender pay gap has been bedeviling the workplace for eons, and new research shows that the difference between men and women’s paychecks start as soon as they enter the job market.
Women in entry-level roles earn 93% as much as their male counterparts, according to a recent study from ZipRecruiter, which surveyed around 3,000 young people in the U.S. Post-graduate women reported earning an annual salary of $67,500, while men earned $72,700.
That disparity is only set to grow as women advance in their career. In 2024, women at all levels earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. And while the gender pay gap in the U.S. has narrowed over the past two decades, there is still a long way to go until parity—134 years to be exact, according to recent data from JPMorgan.
The report also revealed differences in career expectations and outcomes that may be contributing to pay inequity. Prior to college graduation, both men and women anticipated lowering their standard of living due to inflation. However, women were more inclined to actually lower their standard of living post-graduation, while men were more likely to demand a higher salary to offset a higher cost of living, according to the report.
The numbers may seem discouraging, but young graduates should concentrate on doing their due diligence, and asking for more, Sam DeMase, a career expert at ZipRecruiter, tells Fortune.
“If you are navigating the job market as a recent grad or entry-level worker, it’s important to research salary benchmarks thoroughly, negotiate confidently, and to remember that one’s potential is not limited by statistics,” she says.
And while it’s not the responsibility of first-time job seekers to single handedly close the pay gap, there are tangible steps that they can take to ensure their compensation is fair. The most important, according to DeMase, is salary negotiation.
“Employers expect you to negotiate, even in uncertain economic conditions,” she says.