Texas cities dominated the top five in a new ranking of U.S. cities with the largest gender pay gaps in 2026.

Texas cities dominated the top five in a new ranking of U.S. cities with the largest gender pay gaps in 2026.

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It’s 2026, and the gender pay gap is alive and well—especially in Texas.

Business.com released a new analysis of U.S. cities with the largest gender pay gaps in 2026, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The study covers 170 of the nation’s largest cities, all 50 states and 553 differing occupations. 

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The findings reveal persistent pay inequities, with Texas standing out: nine cities in the state rank among the top 50—the second-highest concentration nationwide.

“Women working full-time today earn 17 percent less than men nationwide, but in some cities and professions, the pay gap exceeds 30 percent,” the study reads.

The NFL's Dallas Cowboy's headquarters located in Frisco, Texas. The city has become a major hub for men's professional sports.

The NFL’s Dallas Cowboy’s headquarters located in Frisco, Texas. The city has become a major hub for men’s professional sports.

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Which Texas city is the worst? 

Frisco, a suburb about 30 miles outside of Dallas, had the second-largest pay gap.

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Median earnings for men in Frisco fall at $121,907, compared to the median earnings for women at $80,870—a whopping $41,037 disparity.

However, the city is one of the most concentrated hubs for men’s professional sports, home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys headquarters, the PGA of America, the MLS’ FC Dallas, minor league baseball Frisco Roughriders and a training facility for the NHL’s Dallas Stars. The city also is home to the headquarters for several major corporations, including Public Storage and McAfee. 

Dallas suburbs are particularly notorious for notable pay gaps, with two others ranking in the top five nationwide. McKinney claimed the fourth spot with a $30,084 gap and Plano rounded out the top five with a $29,587 gap. Both cities are notable tech hubs. 

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Low angle view of office buildings as seen from Tranquility Park in downtown Houston, Texas. The pay gap in the city, identified by Business.com, is about $5,400 annually, based on median pay.

Low angle view of office buildings as seen from Tranquility Park in downtown Houston, Texas. The pay gap in the city, identified by Business.com, is about $5,400 annually, based on median pay.

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What does the gap look like in Houston?

In Houston, the median earnings gap is smaller but growing.

The median earnings in Houston are $52,207, according to the study. However, those numbers change when looking individually at women and men.

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Men’s median earnings are $55,625, while women’s are $50,190—a $5,435 gap. 

And the disparity seems to be growing rather than shrinking. That gap nearly doubled year-over-year in Houston, according to the press release. 

The State Capital Building in Austin, Texas. Business.com's analysis of the gender pay gap across the U.S. ranked several other Texas cities in the top 50. 

The State Capital Building in Austin, Texas. Business.com’s analysis of the gender pay gap across the U.S. ranked several other Texas cities in the top 50. 

BrandonSeidel/Getty Images/iStockphoto

What about Texas in general?

Statewide, the median earnings between men and women differ by $10,920 annually. The median earnings for men fall at $54,847, while for women, it comes out to $43,927.

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Texas claims the second-highest concentration among the top 50 in the U.S. with nine cities ranked. 

Here are the other seven Texas cities that made the list:

Corpus Christi – $15,955
Fort Worth – $14,991
Brownsville – $12,262
Austin – $12,117
El Paso – $10,419
Dallas – $7,181
San Antonio – $5,596

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