Gender pay gap smaller in state government

HELENA — A new state audit shows the gender pay gap among Montana government employees is nearly 20 percent smaller than it is statewide.

Women make about 67 percent of what men earn on average across the state. The Montana Department of Administration audit released Thursday shows women in state government make about 86 percent of what men earn.

The audit says women in the same occupation as men make 98.68 percent of the men’s salaries, but that women tend to be underrepresented in higher-level management positions. 

Women are also more likely than men to be underemployed, meaning they have a level of education that is higher than the level of work they do.

The audit was released by Gov. Steve Bullock’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force.