10 Stereotypically Female Jobs Where Men Make More Money

We know that on the whole, women make as much as 12% less than men even 10 years out of college.

But it stands to reason that in fields traditionally dominated by women (nursing, teaching, social work—think any role that that would be played by a woman in a not particularly progressive children’s cartoon), the highest-paid workers would be women, those who populate the field. Right?

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Wrong. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, a number of jobs that employ mostly women pay men a higher wage. Here are some of the worst offenders:

1. Social Worker

If you meet a social worker, she is more likely to be female than male—in fact, 79% more likely. Even though women dominate the profession, it does not mean they top the pay scale. Men make an average of $864 per week, while women in the same profession make an average of $774. That is almost 11% less.

2. Nurse

If you get sick and go to the hospital, you are 90% more likely to have a female nurse than a male nurse. And the few men in the profession make an average of 5% more than a woman in the same job.

3. Cashier

Most cashiers are women. In fact, 70% of cashiers are female. Men make an average of $422 per week while women only make an average of $361 per week working at a cash register.

4. Teacher

When you think of the teachers you had growing up, chances are that most of them were women. In 2010, 73% of teachers were women. On average, those women made 78 cents for every dollar a man earned.

5. Server

If you dine out, 65% of waitstaff around the country are female. But if you want your waitress to make the same as her male counterparts you better tip her a few bucks more, because she makes an average $363 per week compared to a waiter’s earnings of $419.

6. Librarian

A whopping 78% of librarians are women. But for every dollar a male librarian makes, a female librarian makes only 80 cents.

7. Customer Service Representative

Women fill the bulk of customer service positions—66% more. Female customer service reps make 5% less than their male counterparts.

8. Receptionist

Most office managers believe that a lovely lady should greet you when you come into or call their office, as 92% of receptionists are female. But a female receptionist makes 4% less than a man in that same job.

9. Maid/Housekeeper

A full 87% of maids and house cleaners are women. However, a female cleaner makes only $371 per week, while a male makes $444.

10. Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker

If you walk into a laundromat you are 66% more likely to see a woman behind the counter. For the same job, she will make 73 cents for every dollar a man earns.