Gender comparisons of income expectations in the USA at the beginning of medical school during the past 28 years

This study was designed to investigate gender differences in the USA, in an ticipated professional income. Participants were 5314 medical students (388 0 men, 1434 women) who entered Jefferson Medical College between 1970 and 1 997. The annual peak professional income estimated at the beginning of medi cal school was the dependent variable and gender within selected time perio ds was the independent variable. Results showed significant differences bet ween men and women on their anticipated future incomes in different time pe riods. Women generally expected 23% less income than men. The effect size e stimates of the differences were moderately high. The gender gap in income expectations was more pronounced for those who planned to pursue surgery th an their counterparts who planned to practice family medicine or pediatrics . A unique feature of this study is that its outcomes could not be confound ed by active factors such as experience, working hours, age and productivit y. Findings suggest that social learning may contribute to gender gap in an ticipated income. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.