Many women in our community say they have been, and most found out by accident. When we asked men the same question, 12% knew they were earning more than a female colleague in the same role and 44% had no idea either way. Our 2026 Salary Survey found the pay gap opens after Year 10. Women with the same industry and experience earn about 7% less than men.
What did our surveys find?
| Finding | Result |
|---|---|
| Men who knew they earned more than a female colleague in the same role | 12% |
| Men who had no idea either way | 44% |
| Pay of women with the same industry and experience as men | About 7% less |
| Feel underpaid | Women 32%, men 26% |
| Feel underpaid at Year 20 | Women 39%, men 25% |
The first two rows come from our community poll of men. The rest come from The Aussie Corporate 2026 Salary Survey.
How do women find out they're paid less?
Almost nobody gets told. They find out by accident, through a payroll glitch, a document left on a printer or the contract of someone they manage.
Found out by accident, looking for something on his desk and found hus payslip. 30k more than me for same job title and same role. I had been qualified longer than him and had more qualifications too. absolutely hurt but what can you do with info youre not supposed to know!!
Yes, $60k less. I found his old employment contract in a drawer where he left his handover notes.
Yes, payroll accidentally sent to myself and another female colleague who were doing the same job as the male as well as the males job- we were on $30 less an HOUR than him!!! Insurance Broker
Yup! I got a promotion and my replacement asked me to witness him sign his contract.. it was 20% more than what I was on!
If the only way to discover a pay gap is to stumble onto it, plenty of people never find out at all. The gap survives because of silence, and because many assume it doesn't happen to them.
What reasons are women given for being paid less?
Family, again and again. Women are treated as a flight risk before having children, penalised while on leave and downgraded after returning. In many cases, becoming a father is treated as a reason to pay a man more.
I was told that my bonus was half my colleague's because he had a family to support and I had a husband - I had generated 3 times his revenue
I hit triple my sales territories budget & was told there was no room to payout full commission. Male colleague hit 60% in his territory, got full commission. When I questioned GM, was told male colleague had 3 kids to support whereas my dependents were "only stepkids"
I once overheard two managers at a big four say that a woman didn't need a promotion or pay rise "because her husband is on a pretty good wicket"
Is it because women don't negotiate?
Research says women negotiate about as often as men. They are turned down more often and judged more harshly for asking the same thing. Telling women to negotiate harder blames the problem on confidence and leaves each woman to fix it.
HR called to congratulate me on a pay rise because a gender pay gap audit revealed I should be paid higher (government role even). What they were really telling me was I had been under for 2 or 3 years. Also told me not to tell anyone!
What can you do if you think you're paid less than a male colleague?
Research the market range for your role, compare notes with people you trust and keep a record of your wins. Your company can no longer stop you from discussing your pay, and the gap relies on people not talking about it. If it isn't happening to you, you're the most useful person in the room.
To check your pay against the market, try AusCorp Vault, our free salary benchmark. Our 2026 Salary Survey results show how pay and pay fairness change with experience.
Common questions
How do I find out if I'm paid less than a male colleague?
Most women who wrote to us found out by chance. A gender pay gap audit is the other way it surfaces, and one woman was told to keep the result to herself. Comparing notes with colleagues you trust is the step you control.
Do men know when they earn more than a female colleague?
Few do. 12% of men in our poll knew they earned more than a female colleague in the same role, and 44% had no idea either way.
This article draws on our Big Conversation Ladies, have you ever been paid less than a man for the exact same job?, which has the original slides.
Source: The Aussie Corporate community poll and 2026 Salary Survey, data as at September 2026. Spotted an error? Correct something.
