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Gender Wage Disparities among the Highly Educated

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  • Dan A. Black
  • Amelia M. Haviland
  • Seth G. Sanders
  • Lowell J. Taylor

Abstract

We examine gender wage disparities for four groups of college-educated women—black, Hispanic, Asian, and non-Hispanic white—using the National Survey of College Graduates. Raw log wage gaps, relative to non-Hispanic white male counterparts, generally exceed –0.30. Estimated gaps decline to between –0.08 and –0.19 in nonparametric analyses that (1) restrict attention to individuals who speak English at home and (2) match individuals on age, highest degree, and major. Among women with work experience comparable to men’s, these estimated gaps are smaller yet—between –0.004 and –0.13. Importantly, we find that inferences from familiar regression-based decompositions can be quite misleading.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan A. Black & Amelia M. Haviland & Seth G. Sanders & Lowell J. Taylor, 2008. "Gender Wage Disparities among the Highly Educated," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 43(3), pages 630-659.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:43:y:2008:i:3:p:630-659
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    References listed on IDEAS

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