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A woman's salary depends on the age at which she gave birth
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025

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Researchers from the University of Washington have come to some rather interesting conclusions – scientists believe that the earlier a woman gives birth, the more likely she is to lose the income she could have received if she had devoted herself to her career. According to experts, in order to live in abundance, women need to give birth after 30 years of age.
The new study was led by Meng Ye Leung, and the researchers analyzed data on the health, social, and economic status of women aged 25 to 60 living in Denmark. The scientists' goal was to find out whether there was a relationship between a woman's salary and the age at which she decided to become a mother for the first time. The scientists found that regardless of their level of education, women who became mothers before age 30 generally earned less.
It is worth noting that the scientists chose Danish women for a reason, as this country collects the most accurate data on the health of the entire population. According to Leung's research group, if a woman gives birth before the age of 25, this will not affect her average income or career growth opportunities, but in this case she loses about 2 years that could have been spent on career advancement, and therefore, increasing her income. To obtain such data, the scientists calculated the average annual salary of each woman, taking into account both long-term and short-term financial losses. In addition, the scientists cite other data: women with higher education who became mothers before the age of 28 receive less throughout their lives, compared to those women who gave birth after the age of 30.
However, women who become mothers before age 28 and who have not received an education eventually catch up in income levels with those who give birth after 30, although at first they experience a decrease in income.
According to the researchers, a woman's decision to postpone the joys of motherhood until age 31 or later will allow her to increase her financial status. The experts also noted that IVF technology allows women to become mothers at a later age, so they can calmly devote themselves to work and increase their annual income, so that they can then calmly enjoy motherhood and not think about money.
Scientists are confident that this study will help women understand their priorities and plan their lives.
Today, many women postpone having children and devote themselves to their careers, as more and more women believe that before deciding to have a child, they need to be confidently “on their feet.” However, a number of studies confirm that the later a woman becomes a mother for the first time, the greater the likelihood of developing serious diseases, in particular oncology. Early childbirth also has a negative impact on women’s health. According to scientists, the optimal age for a woman to think about having her first child is between 25 and 35 years old, in which case a woman over 40 will have better health, unlike those who decided to become a mother before 24 (such conclusions were made by experts after studying the health of more than 3,000 women).