Vermont Women, Work, and Wages 2026 Report
The Vermont Women's Fund in partnership with Vermont Works for Women (VWW) and the Vermont Commission on Women, is proud to launch a new report exploring the factors shaping women's economic success in Vermont.
We’re excited to share the new Vermont Women, Work, and Wages 2026 Report, which shines a spotlight on two key drivers of the gender wage gap: occupational segregation and parenthood.
In Vermont, women working full-time earn a median annual salary that is $6,800 less than their male counterparts. That's enough to feed a single mother with one child for almost 10 months.
In the 2026 Report we invite you to delve into two key contributors to this disparity: occupational segregation and parenthood. Both men and women often overlook rewarding career paths that align with their passions and skills by sticking to gender-typical roles. Furthermore, research shows that while parenthood can boost men’s earnings, women’s wages often stagnate and labor force participation decreases. By addressing these challenges directly, we can foster a more equitable workforce that not only benefits individuals but also enhances our economy as a whole.
Expanding upon the 2025 Spotlight Report, the new more comprehensive report utilizes data from 2020-2025 to dissect the persistent gender wage gap, with a focus on occupational segregation, parenthood, and educational attainment. This report focuses on Vermonters of prime working age, 25-64 years old, working full-time year-round.
"As pressures on Vermont women and girls continue to intensify, feminist philanthropy calls us to deepen our collective impact in ways that are sustained, intentional, and rooted in equity. Data helps us see where inequities exist, who is most affected, and what needs to change. By pairing the data from our 2026 report, Women, Work, & Wages, with the stories behind the numbers, we can make smarter investments, deepen our understanding of inequities, and drive the systemic changes needed to expand economic opportunity for all.” - Emily Bush, Director of the Vermont Women's Fund