The issue of pay equity between women and men in Spain remains one of the most pressing topics for society and the country’s economy. Although the gender pay gap is gradually narrowing, the pace of change is so slow that it will take more than one generation to achieve equality. According to RUSSPAIN.COM, women in Spain earn 3.5% less than men for each hour worked in full-time positions. This gap persists even when working conditions and qualifications are equal.
The reasons behind this situation go beyond traditional family role distribution. Women more often work part-time due to the need to care for children or elderly relatives, but even among full-time employees, the pay gap remains. In most economic sectors, men receive higher pay, regardless of age, education, or experience. The gap is especially noticeable among managers and specialists: female managers earn 13% less, and women in technical or scientific professions make 8.8% less per hour than their male counterparts.
Differences by occupation
In office and administrative positions, women earn up to 11.9% less than their male colleagues. In the service sector, including restaurants, hotels, and sales, the gap reaches 16.6%. Even in industries with a high proportion of women, such as education and finance, men still earn more. At the same time, in low-wage sectors like domestic work or administrative services, the majority of workers are women, further worsening the overall inequality.
Education does not guarantee equal conditions either. Women with only primary education earn 14.2% less, and those with vocational education earn 21.5% less than men. Even among those with higher degrees, the gap remains: women with diplomas and doctorates make 12.2% less per hour of work.
Age and work experience
The pay gap is evident from the very start of a career. Young women under 25 earn 5.8% less than men, and in the 25–34 age group, the gap narrows to 1.9%. However, as age increases, the situation worsens again: among workers aged 35–44, women lose 3.9%, and in the 45–54 bracket, already 4.8% for each hour worked. Work experience also affects the difference: among employees with less than one year of experience, women earn 7.4% less, and among those with 11–20 years, 9.9% less than men.
The employment sector plays a key role. In domestic service, women make up nearly 89% of the workforce, over half in the hospitality industry, and almost 55% in administrative services. However, in higher-paid industries such as information technology or manufacturing, the proportion of women is significantly lower.
Context and trends
In recent years, Spain has recorded a gradual reduction in the gender pay gap, but progress remains extremely slow. Experts estimate that if the pace of change does not increase, it will take around 36 more years to achieve full parity. Similar trends are seen in other European countries, where wage differences persist despite efforts to combat discrimination.
In 2025, Spain was already discussing new measures to promote equality in the labor market, but their impact remains limited. It is important to note that the pay gap affects not only women’s income, but also their pension savings, standard of living, and economic independence. Other EU countries are also enacting laws aimed at pay transparency and combating discrimination, but the results have so far fallen short of expectations.
