Women underrepresented in AI workforce, missing out on $100,000 pay gap, LinkedIn finds
A LinkedIn analysis found that women accounted for only 26% of hires in jobs requiring AI skills last year, despite making up half of non-AI roles. AI job postings offer average salaries around $177,000, compared to $80,000 for non-AI roles, widening the gender pay gap. Women also hold just 13% of tech-related C-suite positions at AI companies across 27 countries.
The LinkedIn data highlights a stark earnings divide: AI-related job postings average $177,000 annually versus $80,000 for non-AI roles, a gap of nearly $100,000. Women’s representation drops sharply at senior levels—they hold just 20% of head-of-AI positions (paying $236,000) and 18% of technical staff roles (around $245,000). Even within AI companies, women’s workforce share is 5% lower than at non-AI firms, and the C-suite gender gap is 15% wider than for lower-level roles.
The report attributes this to a “Triple Penalty” affecting women in leadership, AI jobs, and AI-focused companies. Notably, women are 22% less likely than men to use AI regularly at work, and they express greater skepticism about the technology’s career impact—factors that may compound structural barriers rather than explain them fully.
This disparity could deepen existing economic inequality, as AI roles become central to wealth creation. Women already face a widening wage gap, and missing out on high-paying tech positions may reduce their long-term financial security and career mobility. If left unaddressed, the AI workforce may become more male-dominated, potentially shaping products and policies with less diverse input. However, increased awareness and targeted hiring practices could gradually close these gaps, benefiting both individual women and the broader economy through a more inclusive talent pool.