94 Comments   
According to a recent study, if you're a single woman between the ages of 22 and 30, and live in a larger city, chances are you're earning more than your male counterparts. About 8 percent more, specifically.

While it may not seem like that big of a deal, that 8 percent sliver really is -- mainly because the median salary for a woman with a bachelor's degree was 33 percent lower than the salary of a man with the same degree nationally. So, what's with the urban/rural divide?

The current metropolitan shift is being driven by growth in the percentages of women compared to men who attend college and move on to high-earning jobs, The Wall Street Journal reports. Between 2006 and 2008, 32.7 percent of women between 25 and 34 had a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 25.8 percent of men. Meanwhile, men have been disproportionately hit by heavy job losses in blue-collar industries in these urban areas.

But don't declare victory yet, ladies. As of the close of summer 2010, we still have quite a bit of work to get every woman's pay equal to men's. After the jump, why we're still lagging and the two things we all need to do next.

The unfortunate facts: Women still only earn 80 cents on the dollar compared to men, and more of it than ever goes to help support our households. A wife's income now comprises 36 percent of a family's total income, as opposed to 29 percent in 1983. Additionally, women's wages tend to stagnate after they give birth.

On a positive note, according to the 2010 Women and Work Survey, a third of women earn more than their partners, and 19 percent make the same.

We can't tease out all of the reasons for the above, but there are two places where we can all make up at least some of the difference in our next job negotiations. Here's how:

Sell Yourself
NYU's Internet expert Clay Shirky says, "Part of this sorting out of careers is sexism, but part of it is that men are just better at being arrogant and less concerned about people thinking we're stupid (often correctly, it should be noted) for trying things we're not qualified for."

And we know plenty of women who've talked themselves out of applying for a job -- out of that very fear that they're not qualified -- before they've even gone on an interview. What's up with that?

"There is no upper limit to the risks men are willing to take in order to succeed, and if there is an upper limit for women, they will succeed less," explains Shirky. Message: Quit telling your friends how "perfect" you are for a position, and sell yourself to the person conducting the interview. Seriously. We don't care if you borrow the ego for the afternoon.

There are plenty of people who will be willing to tell you can't do a job. You don't need to do it to yourself.

Reject the First Offer
"In my experience, the biggest difference between making an offer to a man and a woman is the negotiations," explains Julie Freeman, human resources director for Hybrid Mom, who has spent the last 12 years identifying talent for various companies. "A man will almost always ask for more money or a title increase, whereas a woman is more likely to simply inquire about benefits."

That floored us. Here we are dickering over our health insurance, while men have no qualms about asking for the next title up. And the salary that goes with it.

Got that, girls? If a company does decide you're the right woman for the job, by all means ask for more money. Ask for the title you want. Negotiate a bonus. The worst that will happen? They'll say no. And that you can "take like a man."