Women made 86 cents for every dollar men made in Maryland, the third highest ratio. The median salary for women was $48,748 versus $56,708 for men in 2011.
Maryland’s success in closing the wage gap is influenced by its high ratio of government workers as well as unions, says Michele Leber, chair of the National Committee on Pay Equity.
She compares Maryland with its neighbor, Virginia: they have similar ratios of government workers, but Virginia ranks 29th.
“Virginia is a right-to work state, which will lower the earnings ratio,” Ms. Leber says.
