If you want to see blatant sexism, look no further than the workplace. In particular, payrolls. And the positions held by women versus men. A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that American women typically earn 82 cents for every dollar men earn. While we still have a long road to walk, the experts at online career platform Resume Genius believe progress has been made over the past decade.

The company recently released its 2025 Highest-Paying, Women-Led Careers Report. The researchers used data from the Women’s Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to arrive at a list of 10 careers where the gender pay gap has narrowed the most between 2014 and 2024.

"The gender pay gap is the difference between what men and women earn for doing the same or similar work," Resume Genius' career expert Eva Chan explained during an interview with Bored Panda.

Chan says while the figure of 82 cents for every dollar earned by men might sound small, it actually isn't. "Over a lifetime, it adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income," she told us. "It's also worth mentioning that this is an average — the gap is even wider for women of color and women in certain industries. And while the numbers have improved over the years, progress has been painfully slow. At this rate, experts estimate it could still take decades to fully close the gap."

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that women across the world are paid about 20% less than men. And according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), South Korea, Israel, Latvia, Japan, Cyprus, and Estonia are among the developed countries that have gender wage gaps above the global average. The U.S., Canada, Finland, and France each have a wage gap of 15% or more.

Chan tells Bored Panda that there are quite a few reasons behind the gender pay gap. "Part of it comes down to the types of jobs women have historically been pushed toward, such as roles in care, admin, or support work, which tend to pay less even though they're essential roles," she explained. "There's also what's called the 'motherhood penalty,' where women face career slowdowns after having children, while men don't."

The expert adds that there are also differences in how men and women negotiate pay, how they’re promoted, and how leadership roles are distributed. "Unconscious bias and old-school attitudes about who should be in charge still linger in a lot of workplaces," says Chan. "The bottom line is that the gender pay gap is a structural issue, not an individual one."

Resume Genius released its 2025 Highest-Paying, Women-Led Careers Report in March. It includes a list of 10 jobs or careers that have shown the most improvement in closing the gender pay gap over the past decade. Chan says one of the most encouraging things they found in their research is that some jobs are making real progress toward pay equality.

"Full progress still hasn’t been made yet, but it shows that when industries commit to transparency, equal opportunity, and valuing expertise, the gap can close," she told Bored Panda.

The Resume Genius report revealed that a decade ago female Marketing Managers earned just 71 cents per dollar compared to men. Now, they’re up to 96 cents, which, is a huge leap forward. Furthermore, 61% of marketing manager positions are now held by women. And the average annual salary is around $85,327.

Chan adds that women Medical Scientists are also faring well. "These are the people behind critical healthcare research, and the pay gap here has shrunk from 79 to 95 cents on the dollar over the past decade," she says. "It’s a field where expertise and advanced education have helped drive parity."

When it comes to Training and Development Specialists, the gap has improved from 75 to 91 cents. "These professionals help others grow their careers," explains Chan, "And it’s great to see their own earnings getting closer to equity."

We asked Chan what advice she has for women who feel they are performing well but still being grossly underpaid... "If you’re delivering results and suspect you’re being underpaid, start by gathering the facts," she replied. "Research salary benchmarks for your role, your industry, and your location. Knowledge is power — and it’s harder for an employer to ignore clear, data-backed evidence. Once you’ve done your research, have a professional but direct conversation with your manager or HR. Advocate for yourself and make a strong case for fair compensation."

"You don’t owe any company your loyalty if they’re not valuing you properly," advises Chan. "If you’ve tried to address the gap and nothing changes, it’s okay to explore other opportunities. You shouldn’t have to choose between paying your bills and being treated fairly. That said, I know not everyone has the luxury of leaving a job right away — other factors can make that difficult. But knowing you can when the time is right is empowering. And sometimes, the simple act of exploring other options can remind you how valuable your skills really are."