Okay, real talk.

I've spent the last three weeks diving into salary databases, anonymous spreadsheets, and honestly? I'm shook by what I found.

We all know the pay gap exists. But seeing the actual numbers - from tech to teaching, finance to fashion - hits different.

So I built something. A breakdown of real salaries across industries, pulled from verified sources. No corporate BS. No "competitive salary" vagueness. Just numbers.

Why This Matters Right Now

Here's the thing.

Most of us have NO idea what our coworkers make. We're told it's "unprofessional" to discuss money. Meanwhile, that silence? It's literally costing us thousands.

I learned this the hard way when I found out a guy who started the same week as me was making $15K more. Same role. Same experience. Different salary.

Wild, right?

That's when I started collecting data. And honestly, what I discovered about negotiation strategies that actually work changed everything for me.

The Tech Industry Reality Check

Let's start with tech because... wow.

Entry-level software engineer: $85K-$120K

Senior developer: $150K-$220K

Engineering manager: $180K-$280K

But here's what nobody tells you - those ranges? They vary WILDLY by company size, location, and honestly, how well you negotiated.

I talked to two women with identical resumes. One makes $95K at a startup. The other? $145K at a big tech company.

Same skills. Different outcomes.

The difference? One knew her worth and asked for it. The other accepted the first offer. (Been there, done that, learned my lesson.)

Marketing & Creative Fields

This one hits close to home.

Content writer: $45K-$75K

Social media manager: $50K-$85K

Marketing director: $90K-$140K

Creative director: $110K-$175K

And if you're thinking about influencer income possibilities, those numbers get even more interesting.

What shocked me? The MASSIVE gap between in-house and agency work. Agency folks often make 20-30% less for the same role.

Also? Freelancers who charge properly can out-earn their full-time counterparts. But that's a whole other conversation about knowing your value.

Finance & Banking Numbers

Okay, this is where things get... intense.

Financial analyst: $65K-$95K

Investment banker (junior): $100K-$150K (plus bonuses that can double this)

Portfolio manager: $120K-$200K

CFO: $200K-$500K+

The finance world operates on a completely different scale. Bonuses can literally exceed base salary.

But the hours? Brutal. I have a friend who makes $180K as an investment banker. She also works 80-hour weeks and hasn't taken a real vacation in two years.

Is it worth it? That's for you to decide.

Healthcare Breakdown

The healthcare pay gap is... complicated.

Registered nurse: $65K-$95K

Physician assistant: $95K-$120K

Pharmacist: $110K-$140K

Physician (varies by specialty): $200K-$400K+

Nurse practitioners often make less than PAs despite similar training. Why? Honestly, a lot of it comes down to historical gender dynamics in healthcare.

Yikes.

Education & Non-Profit Reality

This section made me angry, tbh.

Elementary teacher: $40K-$65K

High school teacher: $45K-$75K

School administrator: $70K-$110K

Non-profit director: $60K-$95K

Teachers are literally shaping future generations and many are making less than entry-level corporate workers.

The pay gap here isn't just about gender - it's about how we value care work versus profit-driven industries.

Meanwhile, if you're considering side hustles that actually pay, many teachers are already doing this just to make ends meet.

Retail & Hospitality Numbers

Store manager: $45K-$70K

Restaurant manager: $40K-$65K

Hotel manager: $50K-$85K

Regional director: $80K-$120K

These industries have some of the widest pay gaps. And the worst part? Many roles still rely heavily on tips or commission, making income unpredictable.

What I Learned About the Patterns

After analyzing hundreds of salary data points, some patterns emerged that honestly made me mad.

Women consistently make less in the same roles. Even in 2025. Even in "progressive" companies.

The gap widens with seniority. Entry-level might show a 5% difference. Director level? Try 20-30%.

Remote work is changing things. Geographic pay adjustments are becoming less common, which actually helps level the field.

Negotiation matters more than anything else. Seriously. The people making top-of-range? They asked for it.

That's where understanding remote work negotiation tactics becomes crucial.

The Industries With the Biggest Gaps

Finance: 25% average gap

Tech: 18% average gap

Healthcare: 22% average gap

Legal: 28% average gap (yep, even lawyers)

The smallest gaps? Surprisingly, government and education. But that's partly because everyone's underpaid there.

What Actually Closes the Gap

I talked to women who successfully closed their pay gaps. Here's what worked:

Salary transparency. Companies that publish ranges see smaller gaps.

Structured interview processes. When everyone answers the same questions, bias decreases.

Regular pay audits. Companies that check themselves regularly catch disparities faster.

Strong negotiation. This is huge. Like, can't-stress-this-enough huge.

One woman I interviewed used strategic email techniques for raises and got a 30% increase. Same company. Same role. Just better negotiation.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Experience

Here's something weird I noticed.

Men with 3 years of experience often get hired for roles requiring 5 years. Women with 7 years get told they need more experience for the same role.

This affects starting salaries, which then affects every future raise.

It's called the "confidence gap" but honestly? It's bias.

Location Still Matters (Kind of)

San Francisco tech worker: $150K

Austin tech worker (same role): $120K

Remote tech worker: $110K-$140K

But remote work is disrupting this. Companies are realizing talent doesn't have a zip code.

I know someone who moved from NYC to Nashville, kept her NYC salary, and basically gave herself a 40% raise in purchasing power.

Smart.

The Startup vs Corporate Split

Startups often pay 15-25% less in base salary.

But equity can change everything. Or be worth nothing.

I've seen startup equity turn into millions. I've also seen it become worthless paper.

Corporate jobs offer stability. Startups offer potential.

Choose based on your risk tolerance and life stage. There's no wrong answer here.

What This Means for Your Next Move

Look, I'm not saying quit your job tomorrow.

But knowing these numbers? It's power.

If you're making $70K and the market rate is $95K, you have options. You can negotiate. You can job hunt. You can freelance.

Knowledge is literally money here.

And if you're thinking about building financial freedom early, understanding your earning potential is step one.

How to Use This Information

First, figure out where you fall in these ranges.

Below the range? Time for a conversation with your boss. Or a new job search.

At the low end? You have room to negotiate.

At the high end? You're probably doing something right. Or you negotiated well. Or both.

Second, share this info. The more we talk about money, the less power employers have to underpay us.

Third, advocate for transparency at your company. Push for salary ranges in job postings. It helps everyone.

The Bottom Line

The pay gap is real. The data proves it.

But we're not powerless here.

Every time someone shares their salary, every time someone negotiates, every time a company publishes ranges - the gap shrinks a little.

I'm not naive enough to think one database solves systemic inequality.

But information? That's where change starts.

So now you know the numbers. The question is - what are you gonna do about it?

Because your next salary negotiation? It just got a whole lot stronger.