Despite the rise in pay transparency laws, progress in closing the gender pay gap has stalled in the U.S., according to Payscale’s Gender Pay Gap Report, released Monday. The report also noted a slight decline in support for pay equity, said Ruth Thomas, pay equity strategist at Payscale.
In 2025, women earn 83 cents for every dollar men make, with the gap widening as they age. By age 45, women earn just 72 cents per dollar compared to men. Equal Pay Day—recognized on March 25—was 13 days later than last year, meaning women with full-time jobs had to work nearly two extra weeks into the new year to match men’s 2024 earnings, per the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Lawmakers Push for Paycheck Fairness Act
To combat pay inequality, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act on Tuesday. The bill seeks to strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963, eliminate wage discrimination, and ensure that women can challenge unfair pay practices.
“Let’s enact the Paycheck Fairness Act and empower working women by giving them the tools to ensure their contributions to the workplace are properly respected and reflected in their pay,” said DeLauro, ranking member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee.
If passed, the act would:
● Protect workers from retaliation for discussing salaries with colleagues.
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● Prohibit employers from requiring salary history during hiring.
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● Provide stronger legal recourse for sex-based wage discrimination, similar to protections under the Civil Rights Act for race- and ethnicity-based discrimination.
The Persistent Challenge of Pay Inequality
Lulu Seikaly, senior corporate employment attorney at Payscale, expressed disappointment at the lack of progress. “It’s a critical retention tool for businesses, which is why, unsurprisingly, women frequently leave organizations when they feel underpaid,” she said.
The gender pay gap is driven by structural inequality, with gender norms limiting women’s opportunities long before they negotiate salaries. Working mothers face an even steeper gap, earning 75 cents per dollar compared to fathers. Meanwhile, fathers earn 2% more than men without children, while mothers earn the same or less than women without kids.
Payscale’s report is based on data from over 369,000 U.S. workers surveyed between January 2024 and January 2025.
As lawmakers push for new policies, the data underscores the urgent need for action to close the gender pay gap and promote workplace fairness.
