Beating the Gender Wealth Gap: 7 Strategies For Women in 2025

The gender wealth gap remains a significant challenge in Australia and globally. Recent data shows that Australian women hold an average net wealth of $428,000, compared to $597,000 for men—a 40% disparity in overall wealth, including property, investments, superannuation, and savings.

This gap is not just about income but reflects accumulated financial resources over a lifetime.

What creates this Wealth Gap?

While there are many reasons why this happens, let’s start with one that almost all of us can relate to:

Women continue to earn less than men for similar work.

The national gender pay gap in Australia was 11.9% in 2025, meaning women earn roughly 88 cents for every dollar earned by men, with some reports indicating a private sector pay gap as high as 21.8%.

• Career Interruptions: Women often take career breaks or reduce hours due to caregiving responsibilities, which affects income, superannuation contributions, and career progression.
• Investment Patterns: Women tend to invest less and more conservatively, which can limit wealth growth over time.
• Structural Barriers: Women are underrepresented in senior leadership roles and high-paying industries, limiting earning potential and wealth accumulation.

Seven Strategies to Close the Gap

Research and expert analysis suggest several effective strategies for women to address these disparities:

1. Salary Benchmarking and Negotiation

Regularly benchmark your salary against industry standards and negotiate pay and benefits. This can significantly increase lifetime earnings. Even small increases compound over time, helping to close the wealth gap, so don’t leave any dollars on the table.

2. Early and Consistent Investment

Starting to invest early and maintaining consistent contributions is crucial for wealth building. Diversifying investments across shares, property, and superannuation can help manage risk and maximise returns.

3. Superannuation Focus

Superannuation remains a key driver of the overall wealth gap, with women holding 21.3% less superannuation than men on average.

Making additional contributions to superannuation, especially after career breaks, and consolidating multiple super accounts to reduce fees can improve retirement savings.

And if you’d like to learn of 4 easy ways to get started with growing your super, read this article now.

4. Developing Multiple Income Streams

Explore side businesses, freelance work, or passive income sources such as dividends or rental income to enhance financial resilience and accelerate wealth accumulation.

5. Risk Management and Estate Planning

Appropriate insurance coverage (life, income protection, health) and having a current will and estate plan protect assets and provide security for dependents.

6. Financial Education and Dialogue

Encouraging open conversations about money within families, workplaces, and communities helps break down taboos and improves financial literacy. Engagement with women’s finance groups and resources supports informed decision-making.

7. Advocacy and Policy Engagement

Supporting workplace policies promoting pay transparency, flexible work, and parental leave contributes to systemic change. Mentoring and advocacy help increase women’s representation in leadership and high-paying roles.

The Intentional Investor Take

Addressing the gender wealth gap requires both individual action and systemic reform.

As women build and protect their wealth, the collective economic benefits extend beyond individuals to society at large, fostering greater equity and unlocking the full potential of half the population.

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