Motherhood's Hidden Career Cost: Highly Educated Women Lose 10% Wages Per Child, Study Shows

A groundbreaking study reveals that mothers who pause their careers to raise children pay a steep long-term price—beyond lost income during their break. Upon returning, they often earn less due to missed raises and promotions. Researchers analyzed the employment trajectories of 4,658 women over an extended period, exploring how motherhood affects white and Black women differently based on education, skills, and earnings.

Key findings:

• Highly educated, high-earning white women suffer an average 10% wage penalty per child.
• White women with lower skills or wages face smaller losses, between 4% and 7% per child.
• Black women experience lower penalties overall than white women, with minimal variation by skill or pay levels.