Women in Media in Washington
How women in media fare in Washington — state-adjusted pay gap, state ranking, and the national context that frames the local picture.
The state-adjusted picture
Women in media nationally face the same structural conditions as women in every other field — but the overall wage environment in Washington modifies the baseline by -5.6% relative to the US average. A state where the overall pay gap is narrower tends to reflect narrower gaps within fields too, though field-specific dynamics dominate for specialized professions.
Washington elected its first woman US Senator in 1993.
National context
Women's representation in media splits into three separate stories: who writes it, who leads the newsroom, and who appears on-screen. Each has distinct numbers and distinct trajectories. This page tracks current data across print, broadcast, film, and streaming.
National headline stats (media)
Other fields in Washington
Media in other states
Related pages
Frequently asked
What is the pay gap for women in media in Washington?
Washington’s overall pay ratio is 79.1% — a 20.9% gap. The gap within media follows the national pattern modified by Washington’s overall wage environment. See the full national field data for in-field specifics.
How does Washington rank on pay equity?
Washington ranks #38 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity, per Census ACS state ratios.
How are women represented in Washington politics?
49.7% of Washington state legislators are women (CAWP 2024). 5 women from Washington serve in the 119th US Congress.
Where does the national media data come from?
Women's Media Center — Status of Women in US Media; Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film; USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative