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The US cities with the worst gender pay gaps revealed in new study

The gender pay gap persists in many US cities, with some women earning significantly less than men.

Jocelyn Harper

Despite decades of progress, the gender pay gap is still alive and well — and in some American cities, it’s shockingly wide.

A new study by PDF management suite Smallpdf analyzed data from the US Census Bureau, comparing average hourly earnings between men and women across more than 260 metropolitan areas.

The findings revealed which cities have the largest gender pay gaps — and which rare few are actually flipping the script.

The top 10 US metro areas with the largest gender pay gaps

  1. Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington, Louisiana – Women earn 62.98% of what men earn
  2. Lebanon, Pennsylvania – 63.68%
  3. Provo, Orem, and Lehi, Utah – 64.15%
  4. Midland, Texas – 64.55%
  5. Bozeman, Montana – 65.37%
  6. Bismarck, North Dakota – 65.51%
  7. Anniston and Oxford, Alabama – 66.19%
  8. Bridgeport, Stamford, and Danbury, Connecticut – 66.3%
  9. Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas – 66.56%
  10. Barnstable Town, Massachusetts – 67.77%

Where the gap is widest

At the top of the list is Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington, Louisiana, where women earn just 62.98% of what men do. On average, women make $25.66 per hour, while men earn $40.74 — a difference that adds up fast.

In Lebanon, Pennsylvania, women take home 63.68% of what men earn, averaging $24.70 per hour compared to $38.79 for men.

Utah’s Provo, Orem, and Lehi area ranks third, where women earn $24.07 per hour compared to men’s $37.52, equating to just 64.15%.

Other metros like Midland, Texas, and Bozeman, Montana, follow close behind, with women earning roughly two-thirds of men’s hourly income.

The surprising bright spots

While the national average shows women earning 80.17% of what men earn, a few cities are flipping the narrative.

In Wenatchee and East Wenatchee, Washington, women actually out-earn men — making 105.43% of men’s average hourly wage. Similarly, in Napa, California, women make 101.59% of what men do.

A reminder that progress is uneven

“It’s no secret that there is still a significant gender pay gap across the country,” says Moritz Werner, CEO of Smallpdf. “It’s interesting, however, to highlight the few areas in the US that have a reverse gender pay gap.”

While some regions are leading the way toward equity, most still lag far behind — proving that the fight for fair pay is far from over.

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