Health IT gender pay gap grows wider, ten-year study finds
Female health information technology professionals have been doing the same jobs as males for less money for years, and the gap is only growing wider, a study conducted by HIMSS has found.
In 2006 the average female IT worker made 81 percent of the average male IT salary and by 2015 that difference widened to the point where women are compensated at a rate of 78 percent for doing the same jobs, according to the HIMSS Longitudinal Gender Compensation Assessment.
For-profit providers showed the greatest compensation disparities, paying women IT professionals just 67 percent of what paid men to do the same work, down from 73 percent.
Health IT vendors and consultants were the most progressive, paying women 91 percent of what they paid men in 2015, representing a four-percentage point improvement.
The HIMSS 10-year compensation assessment analyzed the pay gap between women and men healthcare IT workers and found four factors are contributed to inequality: tenure in their current position, level of managerial responsibility, type of healthcare organization and organizational tax status.
“To attract and retain talented women for the health IT workforce, we must demonstrate compensation equity,” said HIMSS Executive Vice President Carla Smith. “This assessment shows that while we have much work to do there are sectors of the industry where the gender gap is closing, clearly suggesting that gender equity in compensation is possible.”
Twitter: @Bernie_HITN
Email the writer: bernie.monegain@himssmedia.com
