Gender pay gap report 2021 Findings

The Gender Pay Gap data presented here was correct as of the 31st March 2021. Calculations in this report include all permanent, fixed term and flexible contract staff.

Total workforce breakdown

Bar graph showing the split in staff between men and women

Figure 1: Total Workforce Breakdown

Scale graph showing the split in staff between men and women in 2021.

In 2021, there were 1,697 men employed at St Andrews who made up 47% of the staff population. There were 1,935 women employed at St Andrews who made up 53% of the population.


Mean gender pay gap

Illustration showing the mean gender pay gap values

Figure 2: Mean Gender Pay Gap

An illustration showing the mean gender pay gap values.

On average, men earnt £20.92 per hour and women earnt £16.70 per hour, therefore the mean gender pay gap at the University was 20.2% in favour of men, a 0.5 percentage point improvement since 2020.


Median gender pay gap

Illustration showing the median gender pay gap values

Figure 3: Median Gender Pay Gap

An illustration showing the median gender pay gap values.

On average, men earnt £17.82 per hour and women earnt £14.59 per hour, therefore the median gender pay gap at the University was 18.1% in favour of men, a 3 percentage point deterioration since 2020.


Mean and median gender pay gap

Bar graph of the mean and median gender pay gap between 2019 and 2021

Figure 4: Mean and Median Gender Pay Gap

A bar graph which provides a comparative analysis of the mean and median gender pay gap at St Andrews between 2019 and 2021.

  • The mean gender pay gap was 21.9% in 2019, 20.7% in 2020 and 20.2% in 2021. This is a consistent annual improvement.
  • The median gender pay gap was 16.6% in 2019, 15.1% in 2020 and 18.1% in 2021.
  • According to the 2021 Office for National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, the median gender pay gap for the UK economy stood at 15.4%, this is an increase from 14.9% in 2020.
    • In 2019 the University’s median gender pay gap of 16.6% was 0.7 percentage points lower than the UK median.
    • In 2020 the University’s median gender pay gap of 15.1% was 0.2% percentage points higher than the UK median.
    • In 2021 the University’s median gender pay gap of 18.1% was 2.7 percentage points higher than the UK median.

Mean and median hourly rates by gender

Bar graph of mean and median gender pay gap by hourly rate between 2019 and 2021

Figure 5: Mean and Median Hourly Rates by Gender

A bar graph which provides a comparative analysis of the mean and median gender pay gap by hourly rate between 2019 and 2021.

  • Men earnt a mean average of £19.72 per hour in 2019, £20.02 in 2020 and £20.92 in 2021, whereas women earnt an hourly mean average of £15.40 in 2019, £15.87 in 2020 and £16.70 in 2021.
  • The median average hourly wage at St Andrews was lower. Men earnt a median average of £16.86 in 2019, £17.19 in 2020 and £17.82 in 2021. Whereas women earnt an hourly median average of £14.06 in 2019, £14.59 in 2020 and £14.59 in 2021.

Proportion of women in each pay quartile

Quartile pay bands are calculated by dividing the overall staff population into four equal segments from lowest to highest hourly pay. This figure shows the percentage of men and women in each quartile.

Pay quartiles 2021

Proportion of men and women in each of the four pay quartiles

Figure 6: Proportion of Women in each Pay Quartile

A scale graph, which details the proportion of men and women in each of the four pay quartiles.

  • The lower quartile was made up of 35% men and 65% women.
  • The lower middle quartile was made up of 42% men and 58% women.
  • The Upper middle quartile was made up of 49% men and 51% women.
  • The Upper quartile had 62% men and 38% women.

Bonus payments

The University has no contractual bonus arrangements.