Unpacking the gender wage gap in the U.S.: The impact of rural employment, age, and occupation

Abstract

This paper examines three dimensions influencing the gender wage gap: rural employment, type of occupation, and workers' career stage. The findings suggest that (1) rural workplaces are associated with lower wages; (2) women face a higher wage penalty than men in rural, low-paying jobs; (3) wage determinants differ between low- and high-paying jobs, leading to variable impacts on the gender wage gap; (4) gender wage gaps are significantly narrower for early-career workers than for older workers; and (5) even minor annual wage disparities contribute to significant wealth gaps by the end of the working life.