How much do women earn compared to men in the Dominican Republic?
The most recent Quarterly Bulletin of the ONE Business Directory, along with labor statistics from the Dominican market, reveals that income differences between men and women persist across the degree of employment formality, leadership level, and hours worked.
Informal sector: the greatest inequality
How much do women earn compared to men in the Dominican Republic?
Men: RD$140.1 per hour.
Women: RD$102.8 per hour.
The difference represents a penalty of almost RD$8,000 less per month for women in a standard workday.
The difference represents a penalty of almost RD$8,000 per month
Formal sector: slight educational advantage, but a gap in equality of roles
In employment registered with the Social Security Treasury (TSS), hourly wages tend to be similar, or even slightly higher, for women in certain segments, thanks to their higher levels of technical and university education.
However, for the same position and rank, women receive on average 18% less than men.
Business leadership and the “glass ceiling”
77.7% of formal businesses are led by men, while only 15.9% are led by women.
In companies with revenue up to RD$10 million, female participation in management positions is higher.
In large-scale companies with revenues exceeding RD$500 million, male leadership is overwhelmingly dominant, directly contributing to the overall wage gap.
Conclusion
The data confirms that, despite women’s educational advancements in the Dominican Republic, income inequality and limited access to leadership positions continue to define the labor market. The institutional challenge is to translate women’s academic achievements into equal pay and greater representation in senior management.
