Why do men earn more on average?

There are several factors that contribute to the average salary difference between men and women . One of the main reasons is the historical and current gender pay gap , which is the result of system ic discrimination and bias against women in the workplace . Women have histor ically been paid less than men for the same work , and this gap pers ists today in many industries and job sectors . \n \n An other factor is the types of jobs that men and women tend to choose . Men are more likely to be in tradition ally male - dom inated fields such as engineering , construction , and finance , which tend to pay higher sal aries . Women , on the other hand , are more likely to be in tradition ally female - dom inated fields such as education , healthcare , and social work , which tend to pay lower sal aries . \n \n Add itionally , women are more likely to take time off work to care for children or elderly family members , which can neg atively impact their career advance ment and earning potential . Men , on the other hand , are more likely to take on leadership roles and advance their careers more quickly . \n \n It ' s important to note that the gender pay gap is not a natural or inevitable difference , but rather a result of system ic discrimination and bias . Eff orts are being made to address this issue and promote gender equality in the workplace , but it will take time and effort to close the gap completely . </s>