Female full‑time professors in the Greater Toronto Area are paid roughly 12% less than male peers, even after accounting for rank, discipline and experience, a new Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) study reveals. the gap, which has barely shifted over the last ten years, is especially stark for racialized women and those juggling caregiving dutes.

12% Pay Gap Persists Across University of Toronto,York and TMU

The CAUT report, which examined salary data from the University of Toronto, York University and Toronto Metropolitan University, calculated that for every dollar earned by a male professor,a female professor receives only 88 cents. According to the study,the disparity remains stable despite heightened equity pledges from these institutions.

Discipline Segregation Fuels Earnings Divide

Women are over‑represented in lower‑paying fields such as education, social work and nursing, while men dominate higher‑earning departments like engineering, computer science and business.. Even within the same department, the data show women often earn less than men, suggesting that discipline‑based segregation is only part of the problem.

Heavier Teaching Loads and Slower Promotions Undermine Women’s Salaries

Dr. Sarah Thompson, associate professor of sociology at the University of Toronto and co‑author of the study, notes that female faculty typically shoulder larger teaching and service responsibilities, leaving less time for research and grant writing. "We found that women are less likely to be hired into top‑tier research universities, and when they are, they are often promoted more slowly," she said.

COVID‑19 Amplified Existing Inequities

The pandemic intensified the gap as women assumed the majority of childcare and domestic duties, curbing research output and increasing stress . The study highlights that institutions with flexible leave policies fared better, but implementation remains uneven across the GTA.

What Universities Are Doing—and What Critics Say Remains Missing

The University of Toronto has launched a salary‑equity review and pledged transparent gender‑disaggregated reporting. Yet Dr. Maria Hernandez, professor of gender studies at York University, argues that such steps are insufficient without systemic reform. "We need to move beyond simply identifying the problem. Universities must set targets, provide mentorship and hold leadership accountable," she warned.

Who Will Audit the Numbers? The Call for Regular Pay Equity Reviews

The CAUT report recommends mandatory, periodic pay equity audits and the elimination of gender‑based salary differentials through inclusive hiring and promotion practices. As of now, no single body is mandated to enforce these audits, leaving the onus on individual campuses.