A study funded by the National Science Foundation reported that the salaries of female and male engineers do not reflect the disparity that is endemic to other occupations in the US. The researchers used data from a 1995 survey that reported a salary gap of 13 percent between male and female engineers. Using multivariate regression analysis to correct for experience and level of education, the new study found that the salary gap was due to female engineers having fewer years' experience than their male counterparts. After correction for experience, the salaries of female engineers lagged those of male engineers by 2 percent -- a far smaller incongruity than the average gender gap of 26 to 29 percent.

The research was based on a survey of 1.5 million college graduates who were employed full time in 16 engineering fields.