How do the jobs men and women do affect the gender pay gap?

  • By Philip Leake

Women earn less per hour, on average, than men in all nine major occupation groups1.

The number of women working part-time is among the reasons behind this gender pay gap, which is 18% in favour of men2. There are more than three times as many women working part-time than men, and part-time jobs tend to be lower paid.

But a pay gap of 9% remains for full-time workers3, with women earning less than men in every occupation group (even those where women outnumber men).

Women are much more likely than men to work in low-paid sectors like care and leisure, as well as in administrative and secretarial jobs. Four out of five full-time care and leisure roles are performed by women, but these women earn 9% less per hour, on average, than their male counterparts4.

Women hold nearly half (45%) of full-time “professional occupations” – including scientists, engineers and health professionals – yet their hourly earnings are 11% lower, on average, than men.

Meanwhile, men are more likely than women to work in highly paid occupations, like managers, directors and senior officials, where women earn 16% less per hour on average. Men also hugely outnumber women in skilled trades: jobs like farmers, mechanics, electricians and chefs. In this occupation group, there is a larger pay gap (25%) in favour of men.

Women working full-time earn less, on average, than men in all major occupation groups

Difference between proportions of men and women in full-time employment, and gender pay gap per hour, by occupation group

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We see a similar trend when looking at specific jobs. Hover over the jobs below to see the gender pay gap alongside the split in employment.

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In jobs where men outnumber women, including solicitors, assemblers and medical practitioners, there is generally a large pay gap in favour of men.

A pay gap in favour of men remains for full-time primary and nursery schoolteachers, despite the fact that five out of six are women. On the other hand, five out of six full-time receptionists are women, and women in these jobs earn slightly more than men.

Find the gender pay gap for your job using our interactive tool.5

Other Visual.ONS articles

Test your knowledge on the gender pay gap
Find out the gender pay gap for your job
Women shoulder the responsibility of ‘unpaid work’

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