Female scientists, engineers earn less than male peers

(CBC) - Women holding a doctorate in science or engineering are still earning significantly less than their male counterparts, according to Statistics Canada.

In 2001 census data published Wednesday, the statistics agency found that women with such PhDs earned about 23 per cent less than their male peers. That was slightly better than women in the general workforce, who earned 29 per cent less.

The average salary of a scientist or engineer with a PhD was $70,000, nearly twice the average of $36,000 in the general workforce, Statistics Canada said.

People with science or engineering PhDs in Vancouver had the highest age- and gender- adjusted earnings in their job class, while those in Edmonton had the lowest, just behind Quebec City and Montreal.

Men with science and engineering doctorates also outnumbered women four to one. Of the 57,095 people who held such a PhD, 45,670 - or about 80 per cent - were men. In contrast, 47 per cent of employed Canadians and 57 per cent of university graduates were women.

Most scientists and engineers - about 90 per cent - worked in cities, the agency found, with the highest concentration in Kingston, Ont.

About 60 per cent of science and engineering PhDs were working in the public sector, where wages improved as the worker aged. The private sector tended to pay younger doctorate holders better, Statistics Canada said.