Teenage girls expect to be paid £7,000 less than boys

TEENAGE girls expect to earn £7,000 a year less than their male peers, a study has revealed.

The survey of more than 3,000 14 to 19-year-olds shows that girls believe they will have an average annual salary of £36,876 within ten years of leaving education, compared with £44,124 – 16 per cent more – among boys.

The survey by the City & Guilds qualifications group suggests gender inequality starts at an early age. Researchers say that while both sexes overestimate likely salaries, girls were more accurate about pay disparity.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows the gender pay gap is 19.2 per cent.

City & Guilds called for improved advice to help school leavers choose the best career.

Its research came as another study showed the proportion of high-earning women has failed to rise in the past four years.

Women accounted for just 27 per cent of all higher-rate taxpayers in each of the last four financial years, according to the global law firm Clyde & Co.

Based on data from HM Revenue and Customs, it said women made up just 1.21million of the 4.47million taxpayers in the 40 per cent higher-rate bracket.

Taking into account the tax-free allowance of £10,600, workers have to earn more than £42,385 to move into the top band.