WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 15, 2026 – Following their annual analysis of Census Bureau data on women’s and men’s pay, experts at the National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF) determined that the gap in pay for all working women, whether they work full or part time, narrowed by two cents and now stands at 78 cents for every man’s dollar. This comes alongside news that the wage gap for women working full time, year round narrowed by three cents in 2025 – to 84 cents – after widening for the last two years in a row.

NPWF experts uncovered some troubling statistics for women of color. While the overall gap closed for full-time, year-round women workers last year, the gap grew by a cent for Black women who work full time, year round compared to white men: from 65 cents in 2024 to 64 cents in 2025 – and 5 cents overall since 2022.

For Latina women workers overall, including seasonal and part-time workers, it was a similar story: the wage gap widened for Latina workers, from 54 cents on the dollar in 2024, to 53 cents in 2025.

Additional findings from the NPWF analysis include:

• The wage gap for women still remains, and as a result, women – and the U.S. economy – lost more than $2 trillion in 2025, an all-time high.
• For every dollar paid to working non-Hispanic white men, including seasonal and part-time workers, Black women are paid 64 cents, Latinas 53 cents, Asian American women 90 cents and white women 73 cents.
• The shrinking wage gap for all women workers was driven by a 2.2 percent increase in their median earnings.

“Women’s wages are essential to their families’ economic security, yet women continue to face wage gaps that make it harder for them to afford the things their families need, build financial security and plan for the future,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “Closing the wage gap requires intentional investments to address longstanding systemic barriers, including the over-concentration of women in low-wage jobs and the lack of workplace policies that address workers’ caregiving responsibilities.

Policymakers must take meaningful action to ensure women are paid fairly for their work and have the support they need to achieve economic security for themselves and their families.” “As families struggle to make ends meet in an economy that benefits billionaires instead of workers, the wage gap makes affording even the basics more difficult,” said Tori Coan, Research Manager the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The wage gap costs women nearly $13,800 a year – that’s the equivalent of more than a year of child care or nearly 3,400 gallons of gas. Closing the wage gap would help not only women, but also their families and their communities thrive.”

Throughout the year, including on Equal Pay Day 2027, the National Partnership will continue to examine how the wage gap affects women differently based on factors including race, motherhood, disability and LGBTQ+ status.

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