Abstract
In 2018, median earnings for women working full-time wage and salary jobs were about 81 percent of similarly employed men’s earnings (“Highlights”, 2019). Applying concepts of compensation, gender bias, occupational segregation, and organizational justice, the present study investigated the gender pay gap in California’s state civil service, focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations. Chi-square analyses were used to compare the rates of men and women in STEM occupations by salary range and as intakes and advancements. Results indicated that the intake and advancements for several occupational groupings provided equal participation of men and women, and in some instances women outpaced men. Analyses of salary ranges mirrored expected population rates at mid-level salaries. Still, differences occurred in several occupations at higher levels, indicating despite gaining on intakes and advancements, disparities in earnings persist. Recommendations for reducing the gender pay gap and directions for future research are presented.