Governor Kathy Hochul marked Equal Pay Day this week by reaffirming New York’s commitment to closing the gender wage gap and outlining new investments in child care and family support aimed at creating a more equitable labor market.
According to 2023 data released by the New York State Department of Labor, women working full-time, year-round in the state earned 87.3 cents for every dollar paid to men. While that figure places New York among the top three states nationally in pay equity — behind only Vermont and Rhode Island — state officials emphasized that significant disparities remain, particularly for women of color.
Hispanic women earned just 60.6 cents and Black women 67.7 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men, the report found. Over a 40-year career, that gap could add up to more than $360,000 in lost wages.
Policy efforts targeting root causes
“Equal pay isn’t just about fairness; it’s about building a stronger, more equitable future for all,” Hochul said. “We are doing the hard work.”
Hochul pointed to a range of policy initiatives that address the systemic causes of pay inequity, including child care responsibilities, limited access to leave, and underrepresentation in high-paying fields. Under her leadership, New York has invested more than $7 billion to expand access to child care and recently created a $100 million construction fund to build and renovate child care facilities across the state.
Her administration has also enacted 20 hours of paid prenatal leave — a national first — and mandated time off for breast milk expression. Both policies apply to full- and part-time workers.
Tax relief and wage transparency
Hochul’s FY 2026 budget proposal includes a major expansion of the state’s Child Tax Credit, which would affect more than 1.5 million families. Her administration also highlighted New York’s Pay Transparency Law, which requires employers to include salary ranges in job postings.
Raising the state’s minimum wage — part of a multi-year agreement with the legislature — is another strategy intended to support wage equity, especially for women of color, who make up a majority of minimum-wage workers in the state.
Ongoing oversight and workforce support
The Department of Labor continues to monitor pay equity trends through annual reports and has made wage gap data available to the public. It also provides salary negotiation guides and job-seeking support through its statewide network of Career Centers.
“Although we have made significant progress, economic inequalities persist,” said Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “The work of women continues to be undervalued and underpaid. That must change.”
Lawmakers echoed that message. “We cannot have a fair economy without equitable pay for everyone,” said Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson, chair of the Labor Committee. “It’s time we put an end to the wage gap.”
