Today Black women in New York only earn 66 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man makes. Over a 40-year career, Black women in New York stand to lose $1,161,160 in wages due to this wage gap. That means Black women must work until age 81 to catch up to earnings a white man would make by age 60. We highlight Black women’s pay equity now because, due to the wage gap, it would take Black women all the way until July 10th, 2025 to earn what men earned in 2024.
Check out the clips and quotes below rom New York leaders as they speak out about this persistent, systemic wage inequality.
!NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Women, and women of color especially, still face a persistent pay gap. This is why each year our effort to call attention to Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is so important.
NYS Senator Shelley B. Mayer
I am proud to join PowHer New York to acknowledge Black Women’s Equal Pay Day and to stand with Black women to address the unacceptable wage disparity and systemic discrimination they face. The impact of wage disparity on NY women and their families is very real, and now in the face of the anti-DEI efforts of the federal administration, I fear we may lose some of the progress we have made. We will continue to fight for equality and equity, but in the face of federal attacks and rollbacks, we all must redouble our efforts to address wage disparity and racial discrimination. I thank our Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her leadership in the Senate that has led to New York State taking substantial steps to address systemic disparities.
NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney
Until every hard-working American’s earned dollar is equal to the next, the fight for equal pay continues. Black women are the backbone of our economy, leading the way in entrepreneurship and innovation- yet still face one of the largest pay gaps in the nation. In fact over a 40-year career, Black women in New York lose over $1 million in wages. Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is about closing this gap, ensuring every Black woman is compensated in a way that they deserve, and I’m proud to support this initiative.
NYS Senator Robert Jackson
Let’s speak plainly. Black women are the moral architects of this nation—yet in 2025, they’re still paid as if their labor, their leadership, their lives matter less. In New York, we’ve made progress. I proudly helped pass the salary history ban and pay range disclosure law—because equity must be law, not luck. But progress is not victory. Not when Black women still earn just 66 cents for every dollar a man makes. Not when they’re forced to work until 81 to catch up to what he made by 60. This isn’t just a wage gap—it’s a systemic extraction of wealth, power, and time. So I stand—firm and without hesitation—for the urgent passage of: stronger pay transparency laws, mandatory private sector pay data reporting deep investment in the care economy, and expanded paid leave for New York’s workers. Because when Black women win, we all rise.
NYS Senator Leroy Comrie
Black women are the backbone of so many households, communities, and workplaces, yet they continue to be paid far less for the same work. That wage gap isn’t just a number, it’s lost opportunity, lost security, and lost time. I’m proud that New York has passed nation-leading pay equity laws, but we still have work to do. We must expand transparency, close loopholes, and protect the rights of workers. Especially those who have been historically overlooked and underpaid. Pay equity is not just an economic issue. It’s a moral one.
NYS Senator Nathalia Fernandez
At every level in New York, Black women are leading with strength, with vision, and with a determination that moves this state forward. However when Black women are paid less for the same work, it tells a story about whose contributions are seen and whose futures are deferred. But progress has never come from silence. So we’re speaking up, standing firm, and taking action to ensure that we are clear: in New York, we reject that message. We remain committed to enforcing pay transparency, strengthening worker protections, and building a future where no woman is asked to wait until age 81 to earn what others make by 60.
NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is a sobering reminder that, on average, it takes Black women more than half the year to earn what white men made in just twelve months. This isn’t just a statistic– it’s the reality of missed meals, unpaid bills, and deferred dreams. Black women are working hard; leading families, holding essential jobs, and strengthening communities, all while being underpaid by a system built on racism, sexism, and profit over people. As marginalized communities across the country are targeted by social injustices and a disrespect for human rights, I’m committed to fighting for equal pay, strong unions, real economic justice, and a New York where equity is a guarantee.
NYS Senator Samra Brouk
Black women in New York State are still earning only 66 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man makes. Without pay equity and systemic change, black mothers and families are ill-equipped to make ends meet. I am committed to fighting for anti-discrimination efforts in the workplace, pay transparency, and expanding opportunities for occupational growth to create pathways for success for Black women everywhere.
NYS Senator Lea Webb
Today, on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we shine a light on the persistent and unacceptable wage gap that Black women face in the workplace,” said State Senator Lea Webb. “The PowerHer New York Equal Pay Day Initiative is a vital effort to confront this injustice head-on and demand real change. For too long, Black women have been underpaid, undervalued, and overlooked. We must address not just gender discrimination, but also the compounded impact of systemic racism and economic inequality. I am proud to support policies that center the voices and experiences of Black women, break down barriers to opportunity, and ensure that every Black woman in New York is paid what she’s rightfully earned.
NYS Assemblymember Demond Meeks
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is a poignant reminder that economic justice is linked to racial justice. Black women are leaders, providers, and changemakers, yet they continue to face unacceptable wage gaps that undermine their worth and their families’ well-being. In New York, we’ve taken important steps to close those gaps, but we cannot stop here. We must expand enforcement of pay equity laws, raise wages in undervalued sectors, and invest in systems that truly support working women of color. When Black women are paid fairly, our entire economy and community move forward.
NYS Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal
The fight for equal pay is not yet over,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF – Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. “There is no reason that Black women in New York State should be earning just 66 cents for every dollar that their white male counterparts earn, but this bitter truth demonstrates how deeply ingrained gender and racial pay gaps are. On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we recommit to our efforts to achieve pay equity for Black women and create workplaces where women and their contributions are not only fairly compensated, but are valued. I look forward to continuing to partner with PowHerNY to make this a reality here in New York State and across the country.
NYS Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman
Black women in New York still earn just 66 cents for every dollar paid to white men—and that gap adds up to over a million dollars lost over a lifetime. This isn’t just about wages; it’s about stability, dignity, and the ability to provide for our families and build a future. As a Black woman, I’ve felt what it means to be expected to do more and accept less. On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we honor the struggle and resilience behind those numbers and recommit to challenging the systems that keep us undervalued. Our work, our leadership, and our lives deserve full recognition—nothing less.
NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams
On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we are reminded of the persisting racial and gender pay disparities that continue to hamper our workforce and economy,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “For Black women, who sit at the intersection of these disparities, the inequities are particularly striking, with us making only 66 cents for every dollar earned by a white man. Especially at a time when our rights and opportunities as women of color are under attack by the Trump administration, New York must lead and confront this continuing injustice. Our most diverse and historic women-majority City Council will continue working to address pay disparities in the city. In collaboration with PowHerNY and stakeholders across all sectors, we will progress a more equitable economy that pays all workers what they deserve.
NYC Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
Black women should not have to work until age 81 to earn what a white man makes by 60 — yet that is the reality our systems continue to uphold,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. “In New York City, we’ve taken steps to close the wage gap, but more must be done. That is why I introduced Intro 808, to strengthen and expand our salary transparency law — requiring meaningful pay ranges and disclosure of benefits. On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we recommit to the fight for fair pay, dignity in the workplace, and an economy that truly values Black women’s labor.
NYC Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías
NYC Council Member Farah N. Louis, Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity
I am proud to uplift the importance of Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, as though we continue to be the backbone of our economy, in New York we are still paid only 66 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. These lost wages, amounting to more than $1.1 million in lost wages over the course of a career, represent lost opportunities for college tuition, down payments on a home, retirement savings, and generational wealth. In District 45, I see firsthand the toll this inequity takes on working mothers, caregivers, and breadwinners who are asked to do more with less. As Chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equity in the New York City Council, I am committed to advancing and supporting stronger protections through legislation to correct hidden disparities and hold employers accountable.
NYC Council Member Gale A. Brewer
On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we are reminded of how much further we must go to achieve the equitable pay New Yorkers deserve,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “For every dollar White men make in New York, Black women earn only 66 cents. That is unacceptable. I’m proud to have led the charge for the right to paid sick leave with the Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, which I introduced during my previous term in the Council. But as shown by the recent report on salary transparency law compliance from my Council Oversight and Investigations committee, there is far more work to be done to ensure fair pay for all.
NYC Council Member Rita Joseph
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day marks the point where we must recognize the progress needed to value the labor and contributions of Black women across every sector of our economy. On average, Black women working full-time year-round are paid just 66 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. This wage disparity spans industries, education levels, and job types, and it is compounded by systemic inequities such as occupational segregation, barriers to advancement, and discriminatory hiring and pay practices. On this Equal Pay Day, we recommit ourselves to advancing policies that promote pay transparency, protect against workplace discrimination, and ensure equal access to opportunities and leadership roles. Achieving pay equity for Black women is essential to achieving a more just and inclusive society for all.
Carol Baldwin Moody, President and CEO of Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund
As a Black woman, I should not have to work until I’m 81 to catch up to the earnings a white man would make by age 60. As the President and CEO of Legal Momentum, I am committed to closing the gender pay gap, especially for those of us who continue to be left the farthest behind. Today in New York State, Black women workers earn only 63¢ for every $1 earned by a white, non-Hispanic male worker, which means we have more work to do. At Legal Momentum, we are doing that work in collaboration with PowHer NY and other partners. We continue to work tirelessly to enact groundbreaking pay transparency laws in New York and beyond that play an essential role in closing the gender and racial pay gaps. We must continue to act with urgency so that within my lifetime, Equal Pay Day becomes more than a reminder of inequality, but a day we can celebrate.
Sister to Sister International
Tasha Young, Westchester Women’s Agenda
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is a call to action. In NYS, Black women earn 66 cents for every dollar a white male earns. Pay transparency gives all of us the tools to advocate for what we deserve. When salaries, benefits, and job expectations are clear, women can negotiate on equal ground. New York must make sure pay transparency isn’t just policy—it’s reality. That’s how we build a stronger and more just economy—for everyone.