Gender inequality remains rife: a male graduate in 2012 had an average starting salary of $55,000, while the average female graduate salary was $50,000. One of the few areas where the starting salary for female grads was actually higher than males? Computer science.
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A study released today by Graduate Careers Australia suggests that the overall gap is widening; the average male salary went up by $3,000 compared to 2011, while the female figure was unchanged in that time period. There were just seven areas where the female starting salary was higher, most of which showed a distinctive technology/science bent. Female computer science graduates had an average starting salary of $55,000, while their male counterparts scored an average $52,000.
Discipline | Male graduate | Female graduate | Gender gap % |
---|---|---|---|
Biological Sciences | $49,500 | $50,000 | -1.00% |
Engineering | $63,000 | $64,000 | -1.60% |
Physical Sciences | $55,000 | $56,000 | -1.80% |
Social Sciences | $45,000 | $47,000 | -4.40% |
Computer Sciences | $52,000 | $55,000 | -5.80% |
Earth Sciences | $68,500 | $75,000 | -9.50% |
Pharmacy (pre-reg) | $36,000 | $39,700 | -10.30% |
These figures don’t tell us the relative number of students in each sector, which could vary the averages significantly. And while the figures for potential IT workers suggest progress (and that working in tech is a sensible career choice for both genders), there’s no logical reason why the gap should exist at all.
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