Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap: Breaking Down STEM Pay Inequalities

Data revealed in the latest Global Talent Trends & Insights report, conducted by SRG in collaboration with New Scientist, shows the trend of heightening salaries and continued pay inequality across global STEM industries continues in 2024.

Whilst the report has revealed a steady increase in average salaries across the scientific sectors since 2022 in the UK (11.1% increase; £57,725 average salary), Europe (3.4% increase; €65,070 average salary), and North America (3.9% increase; $87,874 average salary), significant gender and ethnicity pay gaps remain in STEM.

The STEM Gender Pay Gap in 2024

Compared to 2022, when the results of our survey revealed a 28% difference in the gender pay gap in the UK, a 17% gender pay gap in Europe, and a 17.5% gender pay gap in North America, this year’s report suggests improvements have been made.

However, directly comparing the results of our 2023 survey with the 2024 results highlights that there is still plenty of work to be done to narrow the gender gap – especially in the UK and Europe.

In the UK, women in STEM are earning much less than their male counterparts; the pay gap in 2024 is 19%, or £12,000 on average. This is a 6% increase over the 13% gap discovered in our 2023 STEM Salary Survey. The pay gap in Europe has increased 3% between 2023 (11%) and 2024 (14%) too. And, whilst North America has fared better, showing a gender pay gap reduction from 13% in 2023 to 8% in 2024, there is still a significant difference.

Emma Brown, Strategic Accounts Director at SRG in the UK, commented on these results:

“This inequality is not acceptable, particularly when we are trying so hard to attract women into STEM. It speaks volumes.”

The Pay Gap Between Ethnicities in STEM in 2024

Another area of concern, as highlighted in the results of our 2024 Global Talent Trends & Insights report, continues to be the significant difference in pay between white people and people of other ethnicities.

In 2023, our research showed that STEM professionals in the UK from Mixed/Multiple ethnic backgrounds earned just £891 below their White co-workers, while Black professionals earned £7,951 below their White co-workers and Asian professionals earned £16,297 below their White co-workers.

A year on, and the average salary gap by ethnic group in the UK in 2024 remains considerable. The gap between the average pay for UK-based STEM professionals from Mixed/Multiple ethnic backgrounds (£49,932) and their White counterparts (£59,676) has widened massively, whilst Asian (£51,406) and Black (£40,156) professionals continue to earn much less too.

Commenting on the results, Neil Jacques – Client Solutions Director at SRG UK – says that greater transparency will reap significant rewards:

“If you want to be a world leader, you need the best brains from all groups and individuals. Life sciences companies know this and are tuned in to EDI issues, but the data suggests there is more work to be done.”

Summary of 2024 Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Statistics

In the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), according to the report:

• Average UK salaries have risen by 11.1% to £57,725

• Average European salaries have risen by 3.4%% to €65,070

• Average North American salaries rose by 3.9% to $87,874

• UK Black employees earn on average £19,520 below their White co-workers

• UK Asian employees earn on average £8,270 below their White co-workers

• UK female employees earn 19% less than males

• North American female employees earn 8% less than males

• European female employees earn 15% less than males

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE 2024 GLOBAL TALENT TRENDS & INSIGHTS REPORT

About the data: SRG and New Scientist surveyed over 4,000 STEM professionals working in the Engineering, Medtech, Biotech, Pharmaceutical, FMCG, Chemical, and Clinical sectors as well as Academia. 55% of respondents were from the UK, 33% of respondents were from North America, and 12% of respondents were from Europe.