New Data Exposes Stark Income Disparity for Single Moms Compared to Other Parents

This article was originally published by The 19th.

A staggering 28 percent of single mothers in the United States live in poverty, eclipsing the poverty rates for single fathers (15 percent) and married couples (5 percent). Contributing to this disparity is the persistent pay gap that mothers face in the workplace, spotlighted on Moms’ Equal Pay Day, recognized on August 7. Full-time working mothers earn approximately 71 cents for every dollar earned by White, non-Latino fathers. For mothers of color, the figures are even more disheartening: Latina and Native American mothers earn 51 cents, and Black mothers earn 52 cents per dollar.

The income disparity is more severe for single mothers, who earn about 56 cents for every dollar paid to all fathers. A recent study by the Center for American Progress (CAP) reveals the overrepresentation of women in low-wage jobs as a significant factor. Mothers often occupy undervalued and underpaid roles, deepening their economic struggles.

“This dynamic suppresses the median income of single moms, making them more likely to fall below the poverty line than single dads or married parents,” said Isabela Salas-Betsch, a research associate at CAP’s Women’s Initiative.

Approximately 3 million mothers are employed in the 40 lowest-paying occupations, such as child care workers, home health aides, waitresses, or cashiers, earning $16 an hour or less. Among the estimated 7.3 million single mothers in the United States, 76 percent work full-time, yet their median income is just $40,000 annually. This figure drops further for Black single mothers ($38,000) and Latina single mothers ($34,000). In contrast, single fathers have a median income of $57,000, and married mothers earn $60,000.

Harvard economist Claudia Goldin found that child care responsibilities play a significant role in widening the pay gap. The disparity becomes more apparent when women have their first child. Women face penalties such as limited career opportunities or reduced work hours due to caregiving duties. Meanwhile, men often receive a “fatherhood bonus,” gaining higher pay as they are viewed as primary breadwinners. Goldin’s research, which won the Nobel Prize in economics, demonstrated that the pay gap widens significantly at this stage.

“Men step forward because women step backward,” Goldin told USA Today. “It’s not just about taking clothes to the dry cleaner; women boost men’s ability to work. If you’re alone, you lack that support.

Higher-paying jobs with substantial business travel can be inaccessible for those with care responsibilities. Women overwhelmingly head single-parent households, bearing the brunt of caregiving duties. When child care fails, single mothers face compounded impacts: In November 2020, during the pandemic, one in five single mothers had to stop working due to child care challenges, twice the rate of other parents. Mothers in child care deserts, where child care slots are scarce, have lower labor force participation. Wage penalties worsen as the number of children increases.

“Child care responsibilities impact job types, workforce participation, and opportunities for professional development,” Salas-Betsch explained.

One potential remedy is paid leave. The United States is the only industrialized nation without a federal family and medical paid leave policy, though over a dozen states have their own. Research by the National Partnership for Women & Families suggests that paid leave could reduce the pay gap. New mothers who take paid leave are more likely to remain in the workforce and 54 percent more likely to experience wage increases.