Are working moms earning less than working dads for Rhode Island jobs?

Posted on May 9, 2016

A new study from Careerbuilder shows that working moms may be earning less than working dads for Rhode Island jobs, among other locations.

At least two in five working moms and working dads are the sole breadwinners for their households, yet working dads are almost three times as likely to earn $50,000 or more and three times as likely to earn six figures. Where working moms may be winning is in the amount of quality time they spend with their kids.

Although facing equal pressure to take care of their families, working moms who are the sole financial providers are still significantly lagging working dads in terms of salary.

Earn less than $50,000 annually

• Working moms who are sole financial providers: 69 percent
• Working dads who are sole financial providers: 40 percent

Earn $50,000 or more annually

• Working moms who are sole financial providers: 20 percent
• Working dads who are sole financial providers: 58 percent

Most working moms (82 percent) feel they can have it all, but only half (50 percent) said they are equally successful in their jobs and as parents. More than one third of working moms (36 percent) report they’re more successful as a parent, compared to 33 percent of working dads. A relatively equal number of working moms and dads say they are more successful in their jobs than as parents – 15 percent compared to 14 percent of working moms.

Still, the juggle seems worth it to parents. Two in five working parents (40 percent) say they would be unlikely to leave their job if their spouse or significant other made enough money for their family to live comfortably (47 percent of working dads vs. 35 percent of working moms). Further, 60 percent of working parents said they would not be willing to take a decrease in pay to spend more time with their kids (66 percent of working dads vs. 55 percent of working moms), even though nearly one third of working parents (31 percent) said their child has asked them to work less.