Rather than bemoaning the income gap based on gender, research gives women new ammunition to speak up and earn a higher salary.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Earning Survey (2010), women earn 81 cents for every $1 earned by men. In every single job category, men exceeded women's pay. While the income disparity cannot be disputed, women can take steps to reverse that trend. Research on behavior in the workplace provides concrete guidance for women who want to earn at the level of their male colleagues.
Enter Careers that Command a Higher Salary
Choosing a highly valued career track makes a tremendous difference in lifetime earnings. Politicians and industry professionals use the acronym "STEM" to classify professions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These careers are engaged in developing the latest products, concepts, and applications that are most needed across the globe.
Women (and men) are in great demand to fill technical jobs in these growing industries. The range of career options are broad. The only limitation most women have is not having had the foundation of education and technical training to have the confidence to enter these fields. Women would be better served by knowing their assets and seeking training rather than counting themselves out for these careers.
Negotiate a Better Salary During Hiring
Research indicates men are more aggressive and secure a higher starting salary than women. However, the answer is not as simple as women playing by men's rules. Women face social risks in being more assertive and are more likely to be perceived negatively by male hiring managers.
So what should women do to balance asking for more money with risking negative perceptions from employers? Quite simply, women earn more by being assertive, despite the social costs. That means women must move forward in the negotiation process and understand that a higher income is a supremely greater advantage and worth the risk.
Ask for Raises and Promotions More Frequently
Economist and author Linda Babcock makes it clear when women don't ask for more money, they sacrifice what amounts to $1 million in amassed income. On television, contestants will do the most outrageous stunts for a $100,000 cash prize, yet women hesitate to ask for a raise or promotion.
How to Ask for More Money
The evidence to ask for more money is overwhelmingly in favor of asking, but the next question is how to ask. The approach to asking is done with the workplace culture and decision making structure in mind. Promotion requests can be made during or after a performance evaluation or before the beginning of a new calendar or fiscal year.
It is crucial that the request is simple and straightforward, without extraneous qualifications or apologies. If the immediate reaction is negative or an immediate rejection, leave the request on the table and revisit it at a later time. Following through on a promotion request is good practice for the future, perhaps for a salary negotiation at your next job.
