The gender pay gap persists, although there’s been some progress. According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women now earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by men—20 cents more than in 1979, the first year for which figures were available.1 But not all jobs offer the same opportunities for working women.
Although the discussion of the gender pay gap tends to focus on how women earn compared to men, there are also discrepancies between the earnings of women in different careers. Some occupations offer higher pay than others.
Curious about which occupations offer the most earning potential for working women? Per the BLS, these careers are among the most lucrative.
1. Pharmacist
Pharmacists manage and dispense medications to patients who have received a prescription from their doctors. Pharmacists also offer advice on medication usage.
Pharmacists manage and dispense medications to patients who have received a prescription from their doctors. Pharmacists also offer advice on medication usage.
While most pharmacists work in grocery and drugstore pharmacies, others are employed in hospitals or clinical settings.
Pharmacists must possess a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and must be licensed. Pharmacists can obtain licensure by passing two professional exams.
2. Computer and Information Systems Manager
Computer and information systems managers—also known as information technology managers—devise, coordinate, implement, and analyze computer-related projects.
Their responsibilities may involve direct work in both software and hardware, web design database development, as well as the overarching job of designing a company's IT approaches and strategies.
Most IT managers possess a bachelor's degree in a related field, although many possess more specific graduate degrees.
3. Physician
Physicians examine patients, diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medications, and devise treatment plans. There are over 100 different specialties and subspecialties for physicians, including family physician, internal medicine, pediatrician, OB/GYN, and surgeon.
4. Physician Assistants
Physician assistants (PAs) assess the medical status of patients, diagnose illnesses/injuries, and recommend treatments. They work in hospitals, health care facilities, and group medical practices. PAs consult with physicians and refer complex cases to physicians, surgeons, and specialists.
5. Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners coordinate patient care. Working independently or in collaboration with physicians, nurse practitioners provide either primary or specialty health care. They are also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and must have at least a master's degree in the field and a state license.
6. Engineer
Engineers design, modify and repair chemical, electrical, computer, mechanical, and other physical structures. They specialize in areas like civil, mechanical, computer, electrical, and chemical engineering.
Earnings vary according to the engineering discipline, but median salaries often approach or exceed six figures
7. Software Developer
Software developers create and help devise computer programs. They do everything from analyzing users'
needs to designing applications and helping write code to improve existing software. This field is projected to grow quickly over the next few years
8. Lawyer
Lawyers counsel and represent individual clients, businesses, non-profits, or government organizations on legal issues or in legal disputes. Becoming a lawyer requires a four-year bachelor's degree and three years of law school training.
9. Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers are responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new members o
f a company's employee team.
Human resources managers are responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new members o
f a company's employee team.
