Women expect significantly lower salaries than men before they even apply for a job, according to new analysis of job search behaviour that suggests the gender pay gap begins long before employment negotiations start.
The research found that women’s salary expectations are 9.5 percent lower than those of men before a single application is submitted. Women also applied for roles with a median salary that was $12,667 lower than the jobs men targeted.
The analysis, by work platform JobLeads, examined job search behaviour from 881,776 users in the United States during the final quarter of 2025 and focused on professional and executive roles.
Gap appears during job search stage
The study suggests the gap may emerge during the earliest stage of the recruitment process, when candidates decide which roles are worth pursuing.
 |
Get our essential daily HR news and updates. |
Across all industries, the research found that 94 percent of men who clicked on at least one job also submitted an application. Among women, the figure was 81 percent.
This difference of 13 percentage points may affect salary outcomes because candidates who apply less frequently or target lower paying roles are likely to have weaker negotiating positions later in the hiring process.
The data also showed that women were more likely to prioritise flexibility in their job searches. Nearly a quarter of women searched for part-time roles compared with 15 percent of men. Remote work was also more commonly sought by women, with 37 percent searching for remote positions compared with 30.5 percent of men.
Female-dominated sectors still show large pay gaps
The analysis found that women can remain at a disadvantage even in industries where they represent the majority of workers.
In the legal sector, women account for 62 percent of employees but still face the largest pay disparity recorded in the dataset. Women earn 26 percent less than men in legal roles, which equates to a median pay gap of $16,107.
The findings challenge the assumption that gender balance in an industry automatically leads to equal pay.
The research also pointed to differences in the types of roles men and women pursue. On average, women applied for jobs that required a higher proportion of soft skills, at 31 percent of the role requirements, compared with 25.5 percent for men. According to the analysis, positions with stronger soft skill requirements paid $9,650 less at the median across industries.
The researchers said this pattern may contribute to persistent salary differences because roles emphasising interpersonal or organisational skills often command lower pay than highly technical positions.
Behaviour during job search affects pay outcomes
The analysis argues that the gender pay gap cannot be explained solely by differences in pay negotiations or employer decisions. Instead, behavioural patterns during job searches may influence earnings well before candidates reach the offer stage.
The researchers said women were not less skilled or ambitious but often appeared more cautious about their expected value in the labour market. This difference in expectations could shape the roles women apply for and the salaries they consider realistic.
The study analysed behavioural data from 881,776 JobLeads users in the United States between October and December 2025. Gender was inferred using probabilistic name to gender mapping.
