Title: Wage Gaps by Race
Headings: Wage Gaps by Race
Wage Gaps by Race
Companies may champion equal opportunity; paychecks don't reflect this
Key Takeaways
Understanding the Wage Gap
Overall median wages
Does education help?
The Opportunity Gap
Occupational Segregation and Unemployment
The Bottom Line
Article Sources

Content: 19 ﻿
Similar research shows a deeper earnings divide across job titles between men and women, particularly for Black women. In 2016, the National Women's Law Center found that Black women in low-wage occupations earned approximately $21,700 annually, compared to $36,000 annually for White men in the same positions. In terms of higher-paying jobs, "such as lawyers, engineers, and physicians or surgeons," Black women earned approximately $70,000 annually, compared to $110,000 annually for White men in the same positions, the study reported. 20 ﻿
The Opportunity Gap
Looking deeper at the origins of the wage gap, one encounters another socioeconomic divide that affects a person's earning potential: the opportunity gap. This concept "refers to the ways in which race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, community wealth, familial situations, or other factors contribute to or perpetuate lower educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment for certain groups of students." 21 ﻿ It has obvious professional consequences clearly connected to income inequality. One clear part of the opportunity gap is the unequal distribution of social capital, based on people's personal relationships and networks, across different classes, races, and other groups. Upward economic mobility can be difficult to achieve without access to social networks that provide connections and interactions with high-earning individuals and/or institutions. Simply put, having friends, family members, or other social connections in high places makes it easier to secure job opportunities, such as by having a contact willing to provide referrals to potential employers.