Gender Pay Gap in Hamburg Stands at Seven Percent After Adjustment - Hamburg’s wage gap persists despite minor progress for women
A new analysis has highlighted persistent wage differences between men and women in Hamburg. Despite slight improvements, the gap remains wider than the national average. The data also reveals how motherhood impacts women’s earnings over time.
Last year, women in Hamburg earned 17% less than men before accounting for factors like occupation, experience, or working hours. This unadjusted gap narrowed by one percentage point since 2024 but still exceeds Germany’s average of 16%. Even after adjustments, the difference remained at 7%, unchanged from the previous year.
The report also examined earnings after childbirth. On average, women in the city have their first child at 31.5 years old. Following this, their wages tend to stall, while men’s salaries continue to climb. No official body has claimed responsibility for publishing the figures, leaving their source unclear. While the unadjusted gap showed a minor decline, the adjusted figure stayed flat. This suggests deeper structural issues persist beyond basic employment differences.
The findings show a slow but uneven shift in Hamburg’s wage inequality. The unadjusted gap has edged down, yet the adjusted measure remains stuck at 7%. For women, having a child still marks a turning point where earnings growth halts, unlike their male counterparts.
