Economy And Workforce
Female to Male Earnings Ratio, by Occupation Type, 2017-21


Female to Male Earnings Ratio, by Occupation Type, 2017-21

What does this measure?

The ratio of female to male median earnings for various occupations.

Why is this important?

The pay equity gap is hotly debated. While the data clearly shows that women generally earn less than men for similar occupations, there can be many factors contributing to this, including choices about when and how much to work, and what types of occupations men and women gravitate toward.

How is our county doing?

In 2017-21, median earnings for men in Essex County were roughly $74,700, while median earnings for women were around $58,200. In other words, at the median, women earned 78% of men's earnings (or roughly $0.78 for every $1 earned by men). This disparity was similar to the national level ($0.81) and slightly larger than at the state level, where women earned $0.83 for every dollar earned by men.

Differences in pay by gender were larger for some occupations in Essex County. In Production, Transportation and Material Moving occupations, women earned $0.67 to every dollar earned by men. In Healthcare Practitioner and Technical occupations and in the Management, Business and Financial sector, the ratio was $0.83 and $0.73 respectively, while in Service occupations, it was $0.70. Men and women's earnings were closer in Computer, Engineering and Science ($0.87).

How do we compare to similar counties?

Westchester, NY and Middlesex, MA had higher ratios than Essex County, at $0.86 and $0.81 respectively. Women in Lake, IL had a greater disparity, earning $0.76 of every dollar earned by men across all occupations.

Essex County had the highest ratios in both the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical sector and the Education, Legal, Community Service, Arts and Media sector compared to all three comparison counties.

Notes about the data

This data does not separate about full and part-time earners or those who are self-employed.

Dollar figures are in 2021 dollars. The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with 3 asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Female to Male Earnings Ratio, by Occupation Type, 2017-21
All OccupationsComputer, Engineering and ScienceEducation, Legal, Community Service, Arts and MediaHealthcare Practitioners and TechnicalManagement, Business and FinancialNatural Resources, Construction and MaintenanceProduction, Transportation and Material MovingSales and OfficeService
Essex County, MA78%87%85%83%73%76%**67%75%70%
Amesbury75%88%****114%208%**74%67%******43%******59%****72%******
Beverly78%91%****81%109%75%47%66%******75%**54%
Gloucester76%70%******79%144%73%0%******50%******84%69%
Haverhill80%70%****74%**101%90%66%******65%90%64%
Lawrence82%84%******82%**122%84%0%******80%90%84%
Lynn87%85%84%**89%93%130%******69%100%77%
Methuen81%98%**69%**106%80%72%90%**82%61%
Newburyport75%110%******99%45%****74%**0%******0%******46%**31%**
Peabody80%76%**67%**54%79%0%******74%**75%60%
Salem93%91%105%134%**99%0%******69%**71%119%****
Andover68%95%58%78%****74%0%******45%******55%92%
Boxford69%0%******55%84%****70%**0%******0%******34%****68%******
Danvers70%65%**85%**140%62%0%******64%68%33%******
Essex80%**109%****122%****N/A****83%******0%******0%******41%0%******
Georgetown65%71%******89%168%******56%0%******0%******48%61%
Groveland108%95%****162%121%****77%**0%******0%******87%**37%******
Hamilton81%76%******89%**158%**68%**0%******0%******55%****24%******
Ipswich71%**117%97%**27%****62%0%******0%******50%****94%****
Lynnfield82%159%******102%******83%**53%**0%******0%******71%****70%**
Manchester51%**0%******46%**N/A******48%****0%******N/A******61%0%******
Marblehead63%69%**60%**45%**68%**0%******0%******81%72%**
Merrimac83%126%92%******N/A****56%****0%******213%******99%**101%**
Middleton80%75%**75%******38%**62%**0%******0%******93%**0%******
Nahant90%115%****110%****N/A******59%0%******0%******54%******144%
Newbury58%31%******86%****31%**58%****0%******0%******27%****0%******
North Andover65%94%**81%36%****70%**0%******81%57%42%
Rockport74%**0%******71%**105%52%0%******0%******91%67%**
Rowley68%0%******308%****N/A******90%******0%******0%******44%0%******
Salisbury76%**77%**91%**N/A****87%**0%******76%******55%******69%******
Saugus80%69%112%136%****72%0%******65%******73%57%
Swampscott68%63%******52%103%**62%45%******0%******87%59%******
Topsfield56%0%******71%****63%******68%****0%******0%******31%****36%**
Wenham73%0%******89%****N/A****90%****0%******0%******188%******N/A******
West Newbury75%**0%******58%******104%**67%******0%******0%******43%******0%******
Middlesex County, MA81%84%78%63%76%107%****82%80%71%
Lake County, IL76%91%71%71%68%66%73%71%84%
Westchester County, NY86%87%76%61%69%90%******70%80%70%
Massachusetts83%86%83%82%77%84%73%78%72%
United States81%84%80%74%76%74%73%74%75%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Median Earnings for Females, by Occupation Type, 2017-21
All OccupationsComputer, Engineering and ScienceEducation, Legal, Community Service, Arts and MediaHealthcare Practitioners and TechnicalManagement, Business and FinancialNatural Resources, Construction and MaintenanceProduction, Transportation and Material MovingSales and OfficeService
Essex County, MA$58,171$91,131$64,663$79,927$82,291$45,625**$32,406$49,690$33,529
Amesbury$55,871$82,375****$65,352$78,036**$83,060$38,190******$22,310******$41,722****$37,245******
Beverly$64,299$86,618****$53,568$97,194$87,885$31,250$37,321******$55,750**$30,203
Gloucester$54,507$67,059******$54,375$75,368$82,138$0******$30,833******$51,191$31,905
Haverhill$52,513$72,045****$55,423**$67,273$77,672$39,815******$35,500$51,519$31,120
Lawrence$36,382$66,893******$43,527**$65,938$62,586$0******$29,247$40,073$32,942
Lynn$45,084$80,716$53,542**$73,636$65,357$70,227******$31,590$48,143$32,889
Methuen$54,120$97,917**$50,885**$78,352$69,963$45,660$37,768**$50,586$34,563
Newburyport$83,393$144,609******$87,908$95,658****$100,536**$0******$0******$63,611**$28,614**
Peabody$58,281$70,987**$54,885**$69,574$75,286$0******$39,513**$51,138$33,818
Salem$58,208$95,350$65,313$86,836**$76,129$0******$30,047**$44,214$44,091****
Andover$89,972$115,764$73,765$126,719****$121,047$0******$42,222******$55,746$34,927
Boxford$91,104$0******$88,179$108,393****$121,574**$0******$0******$62,831****$69,643******
Danvers$61,609$72,917**$64,750**$80,104$75,763$0******$47,806$50,789$31,333******
Essex$66,971**$110,227****$75,938****$72,143****$123,125******$0******$0******$54,306$0******
Georgetown$66,667$95,500******$71,025$97,614******$82,054$0******$0******$52,188$52,500
Groveland$85,026$90,921****$88,642$81,128****$96,563**$0******$0******$65,775**$30,403******
Hamilton$71,929$99,861******$70,036**$78,289**$102,868**$0******$0******$48,158****$11,607******
Ipswich$61,690**$111,194$79,886**$66,818****$84,583$0******$0******$44,426****$45,060****
Lynnfield$84,671$177,568******$104,938******$110,819**$86,591**$0******$0******$71,350****$50,637**
Manchester$89,868**$0******$90,417**$0******$85,938****$0******$0******$134,010$0******
Marblehead$88,626$93,500**$75,000**$95,852**$131,705**$0******$0******$82,545$31,603**
Merrimac$58,825$130,048$58,333******$79,286****$59,429****$0******$113,152******$54,000**$36,442**
Middleton$82,727$103,077**$113,000******$95,313**$81,534**$0******$0******$61,346**$0******
Nahant$92,722$122,548****$76,094****$128,438******$93,926$0******$0******$55,455******$53,750
Newbury$78,396$62,269******$73,846****$77,831**$97,833****$0******$0******$67,561****$0******
North Andover$68,885$107,672**$79,464$89,615****$92,000**$0******$45,774$44,701$36,500
Rockport$60,000**$0******$54,219**$91,250$77,153$0******$0******$53,000$34,350**
Rowley$57,348$0******$90,604****$85,547******$93,507******$0******$0******$52,024$0******
Salisbury$55,507**$76,827**$57,052**$57,031****$80,417**$0******$43,750******$34,728******$32,083******
Saugus$57,196$65,128$65,016$69,500****$75,092$0******$34,219******$46,147$31,476
Swampscott$73,759$77,500******$77,900$88,854**$82,060$26,867******$0******$55,915$30,144******
Topsfield$72,917$0******$64,904****$77,961******$102,143****$0******$0******$46,076****$37,981**
Wenham$79,404$0******$77,788****$64,750****$101,667****$0******$0******$127,292******$0******
West Newbury$79,615**$0******$47,039******$110,893**$99,773******$0******$0******$59,018******$0******
Middlesex County, MA$72,169$100,180$68,076$86,544$91,204$64,300****$40,800$54,753$34,506
Lake County, IL$56,673$98,981$60,291$68,846$85,919$37,576$31,334$47,980$30,861
Westchester County, NY$71,797$102,583$80,990$97,248$99,534$54,844******$32,589$53,900$34,009
Massachusetts$62,769$91,487$65,184$81,031$84,243$51,360$36,459$51,317$34,945
United States$46,977$79,126$53,543$66,447$69,010$35,754$31,910$40,197$28,834

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Figures in 2021 dollars. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Female to Male Earnings Ratio, by Occupation Type, 2012-16
All OccupationsComputer, Engineering and ScienceEducation, Legal, Community Service, Arts and MediaHealthcare Practitioners and TechnicalManagement, Business and FinancialNatural Resources, Construction and MaintenanceProduction, Transportation and Material MovingSales and OfficeService
Essex County, MA79%81%79%71%70%103%****68%78%73%
Amesbury87%71%140%**67%71%0%******85%**84%69%
Beverly76%100%87%59%**76%**0%******40%91%67%
Gloucester88%130%**90%**52%67%203%****63%******76%85%
Haverhill73%97%**85%**74%**77%64%******75%79%68%
Lawrence85%81%****71%89%**74%0%******74%109%85%
Lynn91%105%73%103%91%51%******67%88%90%
Methuen80%96%71%74%**74%78%******83%82%52%
Newburyport75%65%****66%**67%******79%**0%******0%******79%45%**
Peabody81%72%**101%****96%82%**0%******70%82%85%
Salem92%71%88%161%**82%122%****82%****98%86%
Andover66%84%80%40%****61%0%******56%**61%37%****
Boxford68%91%**50%******N/A**64%****0%******0%******40%**0%******
Danvers87%109%**92%71%80%0%******91%**70%82%**
Essex66%**0%******72%******N/A**66%******0%******0%******46%207%****
Georgetown72%90%****112%N/A97%0%******0%******85%47%******
Groveland82%68%******133%****N/A******63%**0%******0%******67%**62%******
Hamilton61%83%******72%**67%****80%0%******0%******49%47%****
Ipswich88%84%**89%**N/A****78%0%******76%****91%69%**
Lynnfield74%84%55%107%94%0%******0%******82%61%**
Manchester57%******73%******24%88%******63%******0%******0%******92%******0%******
Marblehead62%57%**63%**64%**79%0%******45%44%**87%**
Merrimac81%0%******161%N/A****82%**0%******0%******53%**42%******
Middleton78%77%******174%**25%**62%0%******35%******70%******40%******
Nahant74%**0%******92%****N/A******71%**0%******0%******35%******39%******
Newbury69%0%******112%******N/A******81%0%******0%******76%0%******
North Andover74%72%84%65%78%0%******93%******57%**54%
Rockport98%152%**100%**34%****79%******0%******69%**83%80%******
Rowley50%0%******28%N/A68%**0%******0%******49%70%******
Salisbury89%61%****72%**N/A******117%**0%******102%******76%102%
Saugus83%66%77%91%**69%0%******59%**91%71%**
Swampscott71%107%53%82%******72%**0%******69%64%60%
Topsfield56%****0%******73%41%******54%****0%******N/A******49%0%******
Wenham46%****0%******98%N/A**77%0%******N/A******34%N/A******
West Newbury66%**51%****97%74%****88%****0%******0%******48%****0%******
Middlesex County, MA79%86%81%68%74%105%78%78%74%
Lake County, IL75%87%67%57%69%59%****65%73%80%
Westchester County, NY78%84%67%66%72%89%**62%72%77%
Massachusetts82%84%82%77%75%89%71%76%74%
United States80%84%79%71%74%76%69%76%76%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Median Earnings for Females, by Occupation Type, 2012-16
All OccupationsComputer, Engineering and ScienceEducation, Legal, Community Service, Arts and MediaHealthcare Practitioners and TechnicalManagement, Business and FinancialNatural Resources, Construction and MaintenanceProduction, Transportation and Material MovingSales and OfficeService
Essex County, MA$55,275$90,931$60,724$80,431$80,301$59,028****$33,160$47,964$32,781
Amesbury$65,004$69,297$70,636**$66,153$85,295$0******$37,615**$58,238$30,497
Beverly$60,346$106,283$53,425$78,466**$86,578**$0******$28,460$52,404$30,053
Gloucester$55,186$104,292**$60,873**$70,651$80,837$116,513****$35,953******$46,101$39,105
Haverhill$47,643$92,829**$60,050**$61,205**$68,520$42,270******$37,463$46,672$30,991
Lawrence$34,008$57,579****$40,524$56,733**$52,818$0******$26,438$40,338$30,239
Lynn$44,166$78,615$49,089$73,926$71,340$26,173******$31,082$41,643$33,786
Methuen$50,884$91,646$57,944$75,053**$64,148$47,811******$39,602$47,363$27,472
Newburyport$73,307$77,408****$64,506**$96,812******$90,864**$0******$0******$71,201$25,826**
Peabody$52,485$81,636**$59,022****$75,058$75,090**$0******$39,807$47,058$36,733
Salem$55,562$74,445$57,443$96,693**$67,534$68,645****$37,790****$51,298$33,987
Andover$87,139$120,342$78,482$93,024****$108,970$0******$35,358**$55,448$34,929****
Boxford$89,139$117,095**$56,262******$153,554**$110,078****$0******$0******$51,528**$0******
Danvers$61,217$114,697**$60,761$78,386$85,274$0******$51,934**$46,613$33,825**
Essex$60,043**$0******$57,990******$107,168**$84,852******$0******$0******$47,370$49,394****
Georgetown$73,042$110,162****$78,874$80,608$116,351$0******$0******$65,308$31,373******
Groveland$63,235$69,152******$68,534****$114,855******$64,744**$0******$0******$45,297**$24,394******
Hamilton$70,709$113,430******$68,917**$114,077****$112,901$0******$0******$51,297$46,885****
Ipswich$64,344$92,485**$69,590**$74,797****$98,041$0******$43,064****$53,320$40,601**
Lynnfield$75,820$93,292$77,619$116,283$119,376$0******$0******$62,215$56,921**
Manchester$58,365******$91,356******$41,350$97,848******$95,613******$0******$0******$47,602******$0******
Marblehead$77,350$80,668**$61,976**$103,116**$113,707$0******$35,752$59,914**$35,105**
Merrimac$73,244$0******$75,948$83,892****$86,753**$0******$0******$50,129**$30,645******
Middleton$81,523$87,639******$77,619**$69,829**$92,755$0******$18,817******$52,663******$47,085******
Nahant$71,445**$0******$75,438****$118,311******$95,542**$0******$0******$48,106******$34,341******
Newbury$64,251$0******$76,561******$76,100******$86,167$0******$0******$53,215$0******
North Andover$76,173$88,909$72,480$99,469$96,330$0******$54,707******$56,646**$28,296
Rockport$57,530$94,113**$51,782**$97,377****$62,879******$0******$36,552**$47,791$38,934******
Rowley$52,876$0******$48,499$102,288$80,499**$0******$0******$51,523$16,738******
Salisbury$52,520$62,389****$56,309**$40,927******$85,930**$0******$51,354******$47,983$36,990
Saugus$59,397$74,412$67,197$88,355**$64,159$0******$38,027**$56,630$33,989**
Swampscott$67,337$105,691$75,438$112,901******$87,584**$0******$40,818$53,944$36,693
Topsfield$65,569****$0******$75,066$72,924******$90,976****$0******$0******$42,654$0******
Wenham$64,447****$0******$78,854$53,276**$116,664$0******$0******$57,266$18,629******
West Newbury$75,691**$70,092****$83,547$84,048****$130,161****$0******$0******$43,912****$0******
Middlesex County, MA$64,796$95,413$65,627$85,545$85,778$62,095$37,274$52,001$34,296
Lake County, IL$54,817$91,303$59,344$81,133$84,133$34,120****$27,302$46,149$28,959
Westchester County, NY$65,317$95,931$75,909$89,882$101,991$50,717**$29,809$53,119$33,402
Massachusetts$57,645$86,686$62,473$80,877$79,359$51,733$35,078$47,755$33,848
United States$45,182$76,594$52,564$64,943$66,339$35,306$30,683$39,040$27,215

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Figures in 2021 dollars. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable