In the midst of the public debate around the lingering gender gap in places like Fortune 1000 C-suite positions and the technology industry, our 2015 IAPP Salary Survey results show that, in privacy and data governance, women occupy similarly senior positions and earn roughly as much as men.
The results, from a survey of more than 1,300 privacy professionals around the world, demonstrate a 50-50 split in raw numbers between women and men. For privacy professionals, salary figures too are equal, with men in the United States reporting a median salary of $130,000 and women $125,000, and women in the EU reporting a median salary of $100,100 vs. $92,600 for men.
The slight remaining pay gap between men and women in the U.S. is virtually wiped out for professionals who obtain IAPP certification. Among certified professionals, men make a median salary of $135,000 compared to $132,500 for women.
Gender parity is evident not only in placement and pay but also in privacy job titles. Women are almost identical to men in the likelihood of holding a C-level position (slightly more likely), VP-level position (slightly less likely), legal counsel-level position (slightly more likely) or director-level position (even).
This animated infographic gives you the full breakdown.
Suggesting lingering historical imbalances, the data shows that on average, women have slightly less experience in the profession, with 39 percent reporting less than five years compared to only 35 percent for men; this, despite women professionals being one year older on average. Looking at the 15 percent of respondents who have more than 15 years of experience, a salary gap opens up with men making an average of $181,000 compared to $156,300 for women. In addition, only 25 percent of women privacy professionals hold a Master’s degree compared to 39 percent of their male counterparts.
The survey demonstrates that in a work environment on the cusp of the intersection of new technology and policy, women can fare as well as – or better – than men. Privacy, which combines skills from business, legal, technological and ethics, provides a level playing field for all professionals. All evidence indicates that position and salary are determined first and foremost by experience and merit.
To celebrate the meritorious nature of the privacy profession, the IAPP and Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) are putting on an event at the Decatur House, tonight, June 9, in Washington, DC, that will feature a panel discussion with Patrice Ettinger, CPO at Pfizer; Christine Frye, SVP and CPO at Bank of America; Hilary Wandall, AVP and Global Privacy Officer at Merck; and Erika Brown Lee, Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer at the U.S. Dept. of Justice; moderated by Nuala O'Connor, head of the CDT.
At 4 p.m., they will discuss their career path in privacy, and the discussion will be followed by a networking event. Both are open to the public.
For the full results of the 2015 IAPP Salary Survey, click here.
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