Between 2000 and 2015, the share of married couples where the wife earned at least $30,000 more than the husband increased from 6% to 9%, according to statistics announced in a press release by the United States Census Bureau.
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“This is a noteworthy development, given a broader context of an enduring gender earnings gap,” said Jamie Lewis, a statistician in the Fertility and Family Statistics Branch, referencing page 10 of the 2014 Income and Poverty in the United States report.
The statistics measure the income earned in 1999 and 2014, and income is in 2014 dollars. The comparisons provide an overview of all married couples and do not account for employment status.
The table package delves into many other characteristics of households, including similarities and differences between married and unmarried couples. The historical data on America’s families and living arrangements can be found here.
For more findings, or to view the full press release, click here.
