Women in California: Pay, Representation, and Firsts
Everything the data says about women in California — pay, legislature representation, historical firsts, and how the state ranks against the rest of the US.
Where California sits
Women in California earn 89.0 cents for every dollar men earn — a gap of 11.0%. That puts California #2 out of the 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity — top decile. The women-in-legislature figure of 32.5% ranks California #19 nationally.
Notable firsts & figures
Sent more women to the US Congress than any other state. Kamala Harris (Senator 2017-21, Vice President 2021-present). Never elected a woman governor.
- First woman US Senator: 1992
- No woman yet elected governor of California.
- Largest city: Los Angeles
Professions in California
State-adjusted pay and gap figures for women in 20 common professions in California. Each page combines national BLS medians with California’s Census ACS wage environment.
Fields in California
Related national data
Frequently asked
What is the gender pay gap in California?
Women in California earn 89.0% of what men earn — a gap of 11.0%. Census ACS S2001 data.
How many women are in California’s state legislature?
32.5% of California state legislators are women — rank #19 nationally among 51 US jurisdictions (CAWP 2024).
Has California elected a woman governor?
No — California has never elected a woman governor.
Has California elected a woman US Senator?
Yes — the first woman US Senator from California took office in 1992.
How many women does California send to Congress?
19 women from California serve in the 119th US Congress (House + Senate, 2025-27).