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Change the Income Paradigm

This survey cracks the code on high-income women.

Thousands of the smartest, most educated and ambitious women in the US have encountered frustration when it comes to earning what they know they are worth. 
 

  • Men get paid more, are promoted faster and get funded more than female counterparts.
     

  • Women are expected to juggle work, family and household priorities while men can focus on work.


As a result, many talented women have lowered their expectations, shifted gears or left the workforce entirely.

Most research focuses on these issues.

Of course, many women prioritize something other than income. But what about women who do want to earn a lot? And what can we learn from the women who are earning a lot?

We need to change the income paradigm, and the first step is to understand more about the women earning enough to be in the top 1%. With this insight, we can determine how to change the game for all women who want to earn more.

This report adds to the dialogue about what works.

Where are the women?

Only 5 in every 100 top 1% income earners are women - 95 are men. There is little to no research about women who earn enough to be in the top 1%.

This report is a comprehensive study of women in the 1%.  It includes a survey as well as results from many interviews with high-income women. 

Methodology

This study includes survey responses from 492 women including 325 women who earn enough to be in the top 1% of all working women (more than $300k), 145 of whom also earn enough to be in the overall top 1% (more than $775k.)

The survey ran from July 2025 to mid-January 2026.

This report also includes insights from more than 30 one on one interviews with women in the 1%.

Note: I focus on 1% income rather than 1% net worth, to avoid spouse’s wealth and inheritance.

Change the Income Paradigm

This survey cracks the code on high-income women.

Thousands of the smartest, most educated and ambitious women in the US have encountered frustration when it comes to earning what they know they are worth. 
 

  • Men get paid more, are promoted faster and get funded more than female counterparts.
     

  • Women are expected to juggle work, family and household priorities while men can focus on work.


As a result, many talented women have lowered their expectations, shifted gears or left the workforce entirely.

Most research focuses on these issues.

Of course, many women prioritize something other than income. But what about women who do want to earn a lot? And what can we learn from the women who are earning a lot?

We need to change the income paradigm, and the first step is to understand more about the women earning enough to be in the top 1%. With this insight, we can determine how to change the game for all women who want to earn more.

This report adds to the dialogue about what works.

The Research

This survey is built to add the first comprehensive body of research about women earning enough to be in the 1% in the United States. 

Prior Research:

One study found that women’s income alone was sufficient to qualify for one percent status in only 4.5 percent of one percent households. 

Another found similar results, that women are responsible for 1% income status in only 1 in 20 households.

This is old research and there has been none since then.

This survey is built to add the first comprehensive body of research about women earning enough to be in the 1% in the United States.

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