Mind the gap: USU shows Utah’s high gender pay gap in new research

LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) — Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) at Utah State University released new research titled “Utah Gender Pay Gap: A 2025 Update.”

The report provides an overview of the gender pay gap within the state. It defines what it is, its components, and why it’s important to be aware of. The report examines Utah’s unique economic, cultural, and structural factors that contribute to the state’s abnormally large gender pay gap.

Research shows Utah fluctuates between the last three spots as the worst state with the pay gap. UWLP Director Dr. Susan Madsen spoke with ABC4 about what this means for people within the state.

“More religious states and countries tend to have bigger pay gaps and bigger occupational segregation,” Madsen explained. While she mentioned religion, societal norms, and career breaks are all reasons for the gap, there isn’t just one overarching reason for this to be occurring.

According to Madsen, more “feminine occupations” (roles typically held by women) are paid less, and more “masculine occupations” (roles typically held by men) are paid more.

“Throughout the decades, research tells us that in more ‘feminine jobs’ when there’s more men that come into those jobs, the pay increases. There are some occupations where women start going into them and they were originally more masculine, the pay goes down,” Madsen shared.

The research shows that residents in the state understand there is a difference in pay between men and women, and according to Madsen, “More and more Utahns are understanding ‘let’s do something to fix this.'”

Madsen explains that companies are now striving to have structures and processes in place to have a better mix of men and women “because research continues to tell us that mix gets more creativity, innovation, and better decisions for the company.”

When asked ways businesses could adjust to help close the gap, Madsen shared the facts that when the salary range is posted, women are more likely to negotiate equally “because we have been socialized not to ask for more.”

While research shows women in the United States earn approximately 83 cents for every dollar earned by men for full-time, year-round work, Utah women earn just 73 cents for every dollar earned by a man. As shared in the report, “The average Utah woman would need to work until she is 75 years old to earn what a Utah man makes by age 60.”

Last week, she said she had three people who were supposed to receive a promotion and pay increase, but their boss said they had to give the promotion to a man who had a family because these women’s spouses work, and they felt like they couldn’t give them the promotion. It was not a performance-based decision.

“It can’t be explained away as ‘women’s choices’ because these are women with the same education.” Two of the three women from last week had more experience and education than the men who got the promotion.

According to researchers, closing the gender pay gap within the state needs both bold policy reforms and cultural shifts.

“We do have that bigger gap, and it comes from our socialization. It comes from how we are raising our daughters and sons,” Madsen advised. “We need to do things as legislators as people who are serving in public office that align with the views of people we serve.”

Madsen clarified, addressing that the gap needs to be a discussion had between women and men alike.