For the first time, the number of women employed in the United States has surpassed that of men, yet their starting salaries are still significantly lower than those of men. According to a new study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) ( NACE ), in 2023, women who earned a bachelor’s degree had an average starting salary of $59,778, while men earned $72,190, meaning women’s income was only 83% of that of men. Despite women having the upper hand in terms of employment numbers, they still face a significant gap in salary, especially after taking on parenting responsibilities, as women’s income growth rates are much slower than those of men.