Pay equity

Pay Equity = Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value.  

Why is this topic important?
After college graduation, the playing fields for men and women should be even.  However, whenwomenare not paid the same pay for the same work, they start off behind and continue to lose income as well as opportunities for advancementthroughouttheir career.

 

Thinking about pay

Pay is just one part of your total offer package but makes an impact on your future.  To prepare you for positive conversations about pay, CAPD advises MIT students, postdocs, and graduates to review job offer information and tips on demystifying salary negotiation process; research MIT-specific pay data, regional, and industry-specific information; consult a CAPD advisor or Sloan Career Development Office advisor; and, if you are looking for industry-specific information, connect with alumni in MIT’s Advisors Hub.  

The job offer templates by state give information to understand rights regarding non-compete agreements, verifying whether your salary matches your co-workers’, and negotiating for contractual protections. We provide additional pay equity resources to support you throughout your career.

The pay equity FAQs provide information from national thought leaders on research on the pay equity gap.

We use  the word “womXn” at times on this page to encompassing a broader range of gender identities than “woman.”

This page was last updated on August 16, 2023.

Recognizing Equal Pay Day

All pay days are not the same

WomXn working full time and year time are paid 84 cents for every dollar paid to a man who works full time.

Equal Pay Day is the symbolic representation to raise awareness about the wage gap and the impact that it has on women and their families. For most women of color that wage gap is even wider and they need to work longer into the year to make as much.

2023 Equal Pay Days
March 14 – Symbolic Day for All Women

  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Women:  TBD
  • LGBTQIA+ People: June 15 (Awareness Day)
  • African American and Black Women: July 27
  • Moms: August 15
  • Hispanic and Latina Women: October 5
  • Native Women: November 30

Source: AAUW

Intersectionality of equal pay

Identity influences pay.

Quick facts:

  • African American and Black women work nine months in the year to earn the same pay as male coworkers
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander women are paid 75 cents for every dollar. However, Asian American and Pacific Islander women are multidimensional with stark differences among the subgroups.
  • Native American women pay is dependent on the tribe they belong to.
  • Hispanic and Latina women are most affected by the pay gap.

Recruiting MIT womXn? Ensure equal pay!

At MIT, women are 41% of the total student and 27% of total postdoc population in 2021 according to the MIT Diversity Dashboard.

CAPD and the Equal Pay Working Group offer recommendations for companies who recruit MIT students, postdocs and graduates for pay equity in addition to advice for recruiting underrepresented students. 

Review CAPD’s employer pages and connect with CAPD’s Recruiting Team, hire@mit.edu to hire our students, postdocs, and graduates.


MIT Equal Pay Working Group

Who are we?

MIT Equal Pay Working Group raises awareness of the issue of pay inequity.   Led by CAPD and AMITA (Association of MIT Alumnae) the group comprises students, staff, and alumnae from:

  • Career Advising and Professional Development
  • Department of Urban Studies & Planning
  • Association of MIT Alumnae
  • Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program
  •  PKG Public Service Center
  • Women and Gender Studies
  •  Sloan Alumni Relations
  • Sloan Career Development Office
  • MIT School of Management Undergraduate Office, and
  • Supported by Institutional Research

The group’s mission is to collaborate to promote pay equity for MIT students and graduates from diverse backgrounds and experiences at the beginning and throughout their career.  Interested in connecting with the working group for programming or sponsorship, contact equalpaywg@mit.edu.

Pay Equity and negotiation workshops and programming

We work with MIT departments and groups to provide information on  pay  and negotiation for students, postdocs, and graduates.  Interested in having us speak to your group or come to an event, send a request to our email.


Pay Equity Student Researcher

Apply on Handshake by Oct 4, 2023, for priority review. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position can be extended for Jan and the Spring term. 

Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD) seeks a student to work …

By Tianna Ransom
Tianna Ransom Assistant Director, Career Exploration
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Review your job offer: State-by-state guides

When reviewing your job offer, use these state-by-state tip sheets to help you understand your rights regarding non-compete agreements, verifying whether your salary matches your co-workers, negotiating for contractual protections, and more!

This resource is a work in progress and …

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Set up for success in a new job – 3 tips from MIT alums

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2022 Fall Career Fair: Employer Equal Pay Initiatives

You can review this list of MIT Fall Career Fair 2022 employers who shared the pay equity efforts conducted at their company. Some companies have multiple efforts listed, so be sure to click on the “equal pay efforts being conducted” column.

Read more »

Featured Resources

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Review your job offer: State-by-state guides

When reviewing your job offer, use these state-by-state tip sheets to help you understand your rights regarding non-compete agreements, verifying …

Set up for success in a new job – 3 tips from MIT alums

Starting a new job can be exciting and overwhelming, particularly if it’s your first time working in industry. Two MIT …

2022 Fall Career Fair: Employer Equal Pay Initiatives

You can review this list of MIT Fall Career Fair 2022 employers who shared the pay equity efforts conducted at …

Check out CAPD’s ever-expanding playlist of podcasts offering insight into negotiation & pay equity.

In a panel event held in October 2021, MIT alumni offered advice and insights on the salary negotiation process. Thank …

Featured Resources

Review your job offer: State-by-state guides

When reviewing your job offer, use these state-by-state tip sheets to help you understand your rights regarding non-compete agreements, verifying …

Set up for success in a new job – 3 tips from MIT alums

Starting a new job can be exciting and overwhelming, particularly if it’s your first time working in industry. Two MIT …

2022 Fall Career Fair: Employer Equal Pay Initiatives

You can review this list of MIT Fall Career Fair 2022 employers who shared the pay equity efforts conducted at …

Check out CAPD’s ever-expanding playlist of podcasts offering insight into negotiation & pay equity.

In a panel event held in October 2021, MIT alumni offered advice and insights on the salary negotiation process. Thank …