Gender pay gap startups

Gender Pay Gap is wider for startups

The gender pay gap has caused global issues for a long time, however this pay disparity has become even more apparent amongst start-ups, as the UK’s start-ups gender pay gap is worse than the national average in 1992.

This data has been delivered by Sifted, and they have found that:

  • In the UK, women are paid 70p for every £1 men earn at start-ups

However, it is not just the UK that is suffering. Both German and French start-ups have a significantly wider pay gap than the national average too.

  • In Germany, women are paid 77p for every £1 men earn
  • In France, women are paid 84p for every £1 men earn

What is the reason behind this?

A large gender pay gap in start-ups doesn’t necessarily mean that women are being paid less than men.

It could be a signal that less women are being offered promotion opportunities by start-up leaders, or simply that there are less women in higher paying roles.

In addition, 34% of start-up boards still do not include women which makes it extremely difficult for women to work their way to the top. Albeit shocking news, many working in the tech industry may not be surprised at these results.

Which departments have the largest gender pay gaps?

It looks like Finance and Technology have the largest pay gaps, with Finance at -22.86% and Tech at -22.67%. These departments are known for being male dominated.

Disappointingly, on the other end, it looks like Admin is the only department that has a gender pay gap in favour of women.

How is this possible?

Although it is illegal across Europe for women to be paid less than men for the same job, unfortunately it is hard to police this. There is a lack of accountability in start-ups, and many outsiders have pushed for a mandatory monitoring of the gender pay gap.

Pay Gap Consultant Michelle Gyimah has said that:

Start-ups currently are not rewarded for building equitable workplaces, only for having a viable product for investors to invest in.”

The lack of support from investors will contribute to gender disparity in start-ups.


Have you noticed a gender pay gap within your role? We are looking to introduce Senior Executive talent to some of the largest tech companies across the globe. If you’re ready to move on to your next senior role, please get in touch today.