12 US States Where Women Make the Least Money Compared to Men in 2025

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The gender pay gap persists in the U.S., narrowing only slightly over the past 20 years. In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned. In 2003, women earned 81% as much as men. Any improvement is good news, but a 4 percentage point increase in women’s pay over two decades is pretty weak. Further, some women aren’t even making the average 85% of what men make; they’re making a lot less. 

New research from the National Women’s Law Center found that in some states, women are making as low as 61 cents for every dollar a man makes. Below are the 12 states where the gender pay gap is the widest in 2025. GOBankingRates used data from BestPlaces to source the cost of living in each state. 

Washington 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 79 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 72 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 22% higher

Mississippi 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 78 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 72 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 21% lower

Oklahoma

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 78 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 72 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 18% lower

Indiana

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 78 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 71 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 16% lower

West Virginia 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 78 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 70 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 21% lower

Montana 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 76 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 70 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: Same

North Dakota 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 76 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 67 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 11% lower

Idaho 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 76 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 63 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 6% lower

Alabama 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 74 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 65 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 16% lower

Wyoming 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 74 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 64 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 3% lower

Louisiana 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 71 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 67 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 10% lower

Utah 

• Earnings made by full-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 73 cents 
• Earnings made by part-time working women for every dollar a man makes: 61 cents
• Cost of living, as compared to the national average: 14% higher

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