Mexican Women Earn 25% Less Than Men: Worky

HR technology platform Worky reports that women in Mexico earn about 25% less than men in equivalent positions. Worky’s 2025 Salary Study, developed in collaboration with consultancy Matteria, analyzed over 17,000 employee records across various industries and job roles. It reveals that the average monthly net pay for women is MX$23,178 (US$1,229), compared to MX$31,025 (US$1,644) for men.

Strategies such as salary transparency and leadership development programs can help reduce the pay gap and improve gender equity, explains the report. These measures, it says, can also foster inclusive workplaces and improve talent retention.

The pay disparity becomes more pronounced at higher organizational levels. While the difference between men’s and women’s average pay is relatively small at entry and mid-level positions, it grows significantly at senior and executive levels. At Level 10 (executive management), women earn an average of MX$265,160 (US$14,053) compared to MX$302,285 (US$16,012) for men. At the highest level, Level 11 (regional directors), the difference exceeds MX$30,000 (US$1,589) in favor of men.

Across industries, the gap persists but varies in magnitude. In finance-related roles such as risk and fraud analysis, men earn a monthly average of MX$33,127 (US$1,758) while women earn MX$24,392 (US$1,293), a gap of nearly 27%. In marketing analyst roles, men earn an average of MX$26,547 (US$1,410) compared to MX$16,009 (US$851) for women, reflecting a wider differential of over 39%. Conversely, in some administrative roles, such as assistant-level positions, the differences narrow or, in isolated cases, slightly favor women — though these roles are also among the lowest-paid in the study.

According to the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE), women in Mexico earn MX$81 (US$4.29) for every MX$100 (US$5.30) earned by men. The think tank México ¿Cómo Vamos? attributes much of this disparity to unpaid care responsibilities, which limit women's access to formal employment and senior roles. Women in Mexico dedicate an average of 42 hours per week to household and caregiving tasks, 121% more than men, while working 20% fewer paid hours. This imbalance contributes to job discontinuity and lower representation in leadership.

Worky's findings align with broader national and international reports. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Index, Mexico ranks 119th out of 146 countries in terms of wage parity. México ¿Cómo Vamos? further notes that inflexible labor conditions often drive women into informal jobs, where incomes are up to 41% lower than in formal employment and where social protections are absent. These limitations create a compounding cycle of inequality that affects long-term economic inclusion, reports MBN. 

The 2025 Salary Study attributes the disparities to factors such as negotiation behaviors, occupational segregation, and structural barriers limiting women's access to leadership roles. Cultural expectations and family responsibilities were also identified as factors influencing career progression and pay.

To address these structural barriers, Worky recommends the deployment of gender-sensitive HR policies, including salary audits, transparent pay bands, and investment in leadership development programs. The company also suggests flexible work arrangements and enhanced parental leave to support care-related needs. México ¿Cómo Vamos? and other experts argue that public investment in care infrastructure is essential. According to estimates by ILO and ECLAC, expanding care systems in Latin America could create up to 32 million jobs by 2035, including 11 million in early childhood care alone.

The challenges extend into the education system, reports MBN. OECD data shows that girls in Latin America underperform in mathematics and science despite strong literacy skills, with confidence and societal expectations discouraging them from pursuing STEM careers. In Mexico and other regional countries, only a small percentage of girls express interest in science or ICT careers, leading to persistent underrepresentation in high-demand sectors like AI and engineering.

Worky’s study reinforces the importance of data-driven approaches to workplace equality. Organizations that adopt inclusive practices report stronger talent retention and higher productivity. Estimates from IMCO suggest that increasing women’s participation in the workforce could add MX$630 billion (US$33.4 billion) to Mexico’s GDP over the next decade. Still, reports agree that without systemic reforms — ranging from education and labor regulation to care infrastructure — Mexico will continue to rank among the lowest in OECD countries for female labor market integration.