And this gap only widens over the course of women’s careers, in part because women are more likely to take time away from work to care for their families. As men gain experience in the labor force, their wage gains typically exceed those experienced by women. In 2011, for example, a typical 25 year-old woman working full-time, year-round will have already earned $5,000 less than a typical 25 year-old man. If that woman faces the same wage gaps at each age that existed in 2011, then by age 35, she will have earned $33,600 less than a typical.
