Gender Gap Getting Narrower

Gender Gap narrowing in IT - Almost non-existent at the executive level

There is a minor gender gap among IT Professionals. However, the gap is lowest at the executive management position (1.4%), slightly higher in middle management (3.9%), and highest in staff and non-managerial positions (6.9%)

Gender Gap in IT by job class

In a survey we conducted, there were 1,497 participants (833 men and 664 women). The selection criteria were based on existing clients of our firm. To participate, we asked the IT professionals if they would like to participate in an IT job classification and compensation study. The survey was conducted in the summer of 2025.

A gender gap continues to exist within IT organizations, but is narrowing. Of the IT professionals paid over $110,000, they are more likely to be men the women. At the same time, women are a greater percentage of those paid under $60,000. However, even with a lower percentage of women in the executive and middle management levels, compensation for women is almost on par with men. There is more of a gap in the non-managerial and support staff roles.

Gender Gap in IT

When we look at the roles that women play within IT, 49% of the women in the survey are project managers, middle managers, and CIOs. 89% of women IT pros feel they are paid the same for similar jobs, versus men 65% who feel women are paid the same.

Of the IT professionals who are paid more than $110,000, women have closed the gap that appeared in our earlier surveys. The median compensation for all IT executives ranged from $188,294 to $163,727.

Mean IT salaries
Updated with the latest data

A summary of our survey is as follows:

  • 41% of the survey sample were women (664)
  • 65% of women in IT say they're equally compensated for their work compared to men, as opposed to 89% of men who say women are equally compensated.
  • 87% of women would recommend IT as a career path for family members, versus 82% of men would recommend IT as a career path
  • 84% of women think there should be more women in IT, versus 58% of men
  • 54% of women say there is a glass ceiling in IT, compared to 42% of men who say a ceiling exists.
  • 56%% of women say female IT workers face different career challenges than their male counterparts, compared to just 43% of men who feel the same way.
  • 57% of women in tech say a role model/mentor is necessary for a successful career, up from last year.

Career Satisfaction drivers for Women in IT remain approximately the same as in our prior surveys:

    • Being challenged (45%)
    • Flexibility (34%)
    • Compensation (20%)

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