Most people are aware of the gender pay gap, and how wages and salaries can vary dramatically based solely on your gender. However, you might not have known of another factor that can make a significant difference in how much bacon you bring home — and it isn’t skill, knowledge, or experience. It’s marriage.
Gender Pay Gap Data: Marriage Matters Sometimes
Yes, marriage.
It turns out, according to the recent data from the St. Louis Fed, that you make more money if you’re married. But only if you are a male.
The fact that the average male worker outearns the average female worker probably doesn’t surprise you. The first sample shows the difference in wages in 2016, between men and women of the same age, with at least a high school level education. While it’s fairly close in the 20s, the gender pay gap grows increasingly wider with age.
However, surprisingly, (or not, to some) if you are male and married, you will outearn your single male colleagues. You will also earn more than all of your female colleagues. And, it isn’t a small difference. According to the 2016 wage and salary data based on age, gender, and marital status, married fellows earn much higher wages than single or married women and single men.
This isn’t exactly new data when you compare the salaries of married men and married women. Being married and having children (at least for women) is often the cause of the gender pay gap. Sometimes, there is also an unequal division of labor at home. However, even without children, married women often earn less because of the focus on the husband’s job. She might be more likely to pass up job opportunities or relocate in order for him to make more.
Still, it’s unclear why married men would outearn single men. Some possibilities could be age and the likelihood of more experienced males being married.
So, Will I Earn More If I Get Married or Not?
Although the data provides some information on areas most of us all were already aware of, there were a few surprises. For instance, single women and married women were neck and neck when it comes to salary. Also, there is basically no gender wage gap between young single men and young single women. The differences only seem to appear once you throw marriage and older age into the equation.
Although some areas are still a bit hazy, the data can help determine why married men make so much more money than everyone else. And, maybe someday, help to close the gender wage gap.
Why do you think married men make more money? Let us know in the comments below!
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Christina Majaski has more than a decade of media experience, including editing and writing for numerous online and print publications. Her work has appeared in MSN, Investopedia, Forbes, and CBS. In addition to being a recognized personal finance expert, Christina holds a degree from Rasmussen University and is based in central Minnesota, where she lives with her daughter, Chloe and her dog, Monty.
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