By State · Massachusetts

Women in Massachusetts: Pay, Representation, and Firsts

Everything the data says about women in Massachusetts — pay, legislature representation, historical firsts, and how the state ranks against the rest of the US.

82.6%
Women’s earnings as % of men’s in Massachusetts
Census ACS S2001
#20
of 51 US jurisdictions for pay equity (1 = highest)
Computed from state ratios
31%
Women in the Massachusetts state legislature
CAWP Rutgers 2024
#26
Rank for women’s legislative representation
Computed from CAWP data
4
Women from Massachusetts in 119th US Congress
CAWP 2025
2023
Year of first woman governor
CAWP State Executive

Where Massachusetts sits

Women in Massachusetts earn 82.6 cents for every dollar men earn — a gap of 17.4%. That puts Massachusetts #20 out of the 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity. The women-in-legislature figure of 31% ranks Massachusetts #26 nationally.

Notable firsts & figures

Elizabeth Warren (Senate 2013-present). Maura Healey (2023-present) — first woman elected governor and first openly lesbian governor.

Professions in Massachusetts

State-adjusted pay and gap figures for women in 20 common professions in Massachusetts. Each page combines national BLS medians with Massachusetts’s Census ACS wage environment.

SurgeonsWomen surgeons in MassachusettsDoctorsWomen doctors in MassachusettsLawyersWomen lawyers in MassachusettsRegistered NursesWomen nurses in MassachusettsSoftware DevelopersWomen software developers in MassachusettsChief ExecutivesWomen CEOs in MassachusettsEngineersWomen engineers in MassachusettsElementary TeachersWomen teachers in MassachusettsAccountantsWomen accountants in MassachusettsProfessorsWomen professors in MassachusettsDentistsWomen dentists in MassachusettsPharmacistsWomen pharmacists in MassachusettsArchitectsWomen architects in MassachusettsPsychologistsWomen psychologists in MassachusettsAirline PilotsWomen airline pilots in MassachusettsElectriciansWomen electricians in MassachusettsPlumbersWomen plumbers in MassachusettsPolice OfficersWomen police officers in MassachusettsJournalistsWomen journalists in MassachusettsFinancial AnalystsWomen financial analysts in Massachusetts

Fields in Massachusetts

AcademiaWomen in Academia in MassachusettsConstruction and the Skilled Trades (2026)Women in Construction and the Skilled Trades (2026) in MassachusettsEngineeringWomen in Engineering in MassachusettsFinanceWomen in Finance in MassachusettsLawWomen in Law in MassachusettsMedicineWomen in Medicine in MassachusettsSportsWomen in Sports in MassachusettsTechWomen in Tech in MassachusettsUS PoliticsWomen in US Politics in Massachusetts

Related national data

HistoricalWomen at work, 2000 NationalWomen in US politics ToolPay Gap Lookup (Massachusetts) CompareWomen vs men at work HubAll 51 US states

Frequently asked

What is the gender pay gap in Massachusetts?

Women in Massachusetts earn 82.6% of what men earn — a gap of 17.4%. Census ACS S2001 data.

How many women are in Massachusetts’s state legislature?

31% of Massachusetts state legislators are women — rank #26 nationally among 51 US jurisdictions (CAWP 2024).

Has Massachusetts elected a woman governor?

Yes — the first woman governor of Massachusetts took office in 2023.

Has Massachusetts elected a woman US Senator?

Yes — the first woman US Senator from Massachusetts took office in 2013.

How many women does Massachusetts send to Congress?

4 women from Massachusetts serve in the 119th US Congress (House + Senate, 2025-27).