Research by the German WageIndicator, Lohnspiegel, has shown that the gap in payment between men and women already exists at the start of their career.
The report, quoted in many of the German mainstream media, by the German academic partner WSI shows that female starters earn on average 18.7 percent less, compared to male starters. But in some of the thousands of analysed reports, the difference can grow to 23 percent. As their career develops, the so-called gender gap increases. The difference seems to be larger in western Germany, compared to the former East Germany. Compared to seven European countries, only Spain and Poland score worse than Germany. (Here is the report in an English translation).