Lower employment numbers and higher inflation worsen economists’ view
A negative employment report for February amid the escalating conflict with Iran has added to the already worrying outlook for the US economy.
Women now outnumber men in academia at every level, with women earning the majority of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, according to federal data.
However, women still earn less in the workplace. According to an analysis by the Economic Policy Research Institute, the gender gap has narrowed slightly in recent years, but will widen again in 2025. After controlling for socio-economic factors, women’s incomes were 18.6% lower than men’s.
“It’s really depressing to say this, but I don’t think I’ll ever finish this job in my lifetime,” said Eva Chan, a career expert at job-seeking website Resume Genius.
March was Women’s History Month, and March 26th was Equal Pay Day. So here are 10 high-paying careers dominated, or at least led, by women.
All of these fields pay salaries at or near six figures and employ more women than men.
“A lot of them are leadership and management roles,” Chan said. Some apply to the healthcare realm. They tend to require strong communication skills. They are generally AI resistant.
Introducing 10 high-income fields led by women
Below are the 10 fields in descending order of median salary.
financial manager. The average annual salary for this job in 2024 is $161,700, according to Department of Labor data. Women make up 53% of the workforce. The sector employs 868,600 people and is expected to grow significantly by 15% from 2024 to 2034.
Resume Genius reports that financial managers “review financial reports, create budgets, analyze data, and forecast future income and expenses.”
Human resources manager. The sector has a salary of $140,030 and 221,900 employees, 76% of whom are women.
Human resources managers oversee employee recruitment, hiring, employee relations and workplace issues.
pharmacist. The salary for this job is $137,480, with the top 10% of earners paying $172,040. Women account for 60% of the 335,100 pharmacists.
This job requires more education than most other jobs. Typically requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and state licensure.
Physician assistant. The median salary for these workers is $133,260, with the top 10% earning $182,200. 73% of people in this field are women. Employment growth is projected to be 20% by 2034.
Physician assistants treat patients under the supervision of a physician. This job typically requires a master’s degree.
Public relations/fundraising manager. The salary for this job is $132,870. There are 128,900 jobs nationwide, 70% of which are held by women.
These employees “shape and protect the company’s public image,” Resume Genius reports. A bachelor’s degree is sufficient.
Nursing practitioner. The median salary is $132,050, with high earners receiving $217,270. The sector is 88% female, has 382,700 positions, and is expected to see significant employment growth of 35% by 2034.
According to a report in Resume Genius magazine, nurses provide “advanced patient care,” often in specialties such as gerontology or mental health. At least a master’s degree is required.
Veterinarian. Veterans earn $125,510 and high earners receive $212,890. The field is 69% female and includes 86,400 jobs. Employment growth is projected to be a steady 10% by 2034.
The patient may growl or hiss at you.
Medical health services manager. This somewhat vague-sounding job has a salary of $117,960, with high earners earning $219,080. There are 616,200 job titles, 74% of which are held by women, and employment is projected to grow by a whopping 23% by 2034.
These employees “oversee and coordinate health care services across facilities and departments,” oversee operations, and manage staffing and budgets, according to the report.
Occupational therapist. The salary for this job is $98,340, with the top 10% of earners receiving $129,830. There are 160,000 positions and 88% are held by women. Job growth is projected to be 14% through 2034.
These workers can help rebuild skills for daily tasks, such as recovering from an illness or injury, or dealing with an ongoing health condition.
Speech therapist. Compensation in this field is $95,410, with high earners earning $132,850. There are 187,400 positions, 95% of which are held by women. Job growth is projected to be 15% through 2034.
Speech-language pathologists treat people with speech, language, and swallowing disorders, sometimes due to injuries, medical conditions, or developmental delays.
You’ll probably need a master’s degree.
