Gender Differences in Earnings among Academic Scientists and Engineers

• In Event: 543 - Section on Race, Gender and Class Paper Session. Race, Gender and Class at Work

Abstract

Research shows women’s earnings disadvantages in academic STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Various factors affect earnings and explain gender earnings gap, but the findings regarding the effects of these factors are mixed. This paper examines gender differentials in earnings among academic scientists and engineers in four broad STEM fields, computer and mathematical sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. In addition, this paper tests the interaction effects (or marginal effects) of gender and personal, education and work-related, and productivity-related variables to understand under what circumstances do women (or men) suffer from earning disadvantages. Data from 2008 Survey of Doctorate Recipients show that when the background variables are controlled for, academic women earn 4%-5% less than their male counterparts in computer and mathematical, biological, and physical sciences but not in engineering. In addition, some variables have interaction effects with gender. In computer and mathematical sciences, single women do not earn less than their male counterparts, but married women and other women do (6%-14%). In biological sciences, women receiving their doctorates from research-intensive (but not other) institutions earn less than their male counterparts. In engineering, women earn less than their male counterparts among those who had employment gaps, but women earn more among those who publish two or more books. No interaction effect is found in physical sciences. The findings confirm women’s earnings disadvantages but provide more insights regarding how the background variables affect men and women differently and how the interaction effects vary from one field to another.

Author

• Yu Tao, Stevens Institute of Technology