While the numbers show promising progress, from women now making up over 40% of the payments workforce to a significant narrowing of the gender pay gap, our industry's journey toward true diversity, equity, and inclusion remains an urgent and ongoing mission requiring collective commitment.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women comprised 41.2% of the total workforce in the global payments industry, marking a 3.4% increase from 2020 levels
- At Visa Inc., female employees held 45.8% of positions in 2022, with notable growth in tech roles at 38.1%
- Mastercard reported 43.7% women in its U.S. workforce in 2023, up from 40.9% in 2019
- Black employees made up 12.4% of the U.S. payments industry workforce in 2023, compared to 13.6% national average
- Hispanic/Latino representation at Visa reached 18.7% in U.S. operations 2022, up 2.1% from 2020
- Mastercard's U.S. Black/African American staff was 13.2% in 2023
- Women held 28.4% of C-suite positions in payments firms in 2023, up from 24.1% in 2020
- Visa's executive leadership was 36.7% women, 14.2% underrepresented minorities in 2022
- Mastercard C-level: 35.2% women, 18.9% people of color 2023
- Gender pay gap in payments industry averaged 18.2% in 2023, down from 22.4% in 2020
- Visa's controlled gender pay gap was 0.8% globally in 2022
- Mastercard achieved pay equity for women at 99.4% of male median pay 2023
- 78.4% of payments firms ran DEI training programs in 2023, reaching 92% of employees
- Visa's ERGs grew to 12 groups with 15,000 members in 2022
- Mastercard employee resource groups engaged 85% of staff 2023
The payments industry is gradually improving its diversity and closing its gender pay gap.
Gender Representation
1In 2023, women comprised 41.2% of the total workforce in the global payments industry, marking a 3.4% increase from 2020 levels
Verified2At Visa Inc., female employees held 45.8% of positions in 2022, with notable growth in tech roles at 38.1%
Verified3Mastercard reported 43.7% women in its U.S. workforce in 2023, up from 40.9% in 2019
Verified4PayPal's 2023 DEI data shows women at 42.3% of global staff, with 37.2% in engineering roles
Directional5In fintech payments firms like Stripe, women represented 39.5% of employees in 2022, per industry survey
Single source6Block (formerly Square) had 44.1% female workforce in 2023, with emphasis on entry-level hires at 48.2%
Verified7Adyen's 2022 report indicated 38.9% women across operations, rising to 41.3% in Europe
Verified8Fiserv's U.S. payments division saw women at 46.7% in 2023
Verified9Global Payments Inc. reported 40.2% female employees globally in 2022
Directional10In the payments sector, women held 37.8% of tech and product roles industry-wide in 2023
Single source11Affirm's 2023 workforce was 39.4% women, with gains in sales at 45.1%
Verified12Chime payments app had 42.6% female staff in 2022
Verified13Plaid's engineering team was 35.2% women in 2023, below company average of 41.7%
Verified14Marqeta reported 40.8% women in 2022, focused on payments processing roles
Directional15Toast Inc. payments platform had 43.5% female workforce in 2023
Single source16Nubank's payments operations in Brazil showed 47.2% women in 2022
Verified17Klarna's 2023 data: 39.1% women globally, with Nordic regions at 42.4%
Verified18Revolut payments firm reported 38.5% female employees in 2023
Verified19Wise (TransferWise) had 44.3% women in 2022, strong in customer support
Directional20Checkout.com's workforce was 41.9% women in 2023
Single source21Rapyd payments network: 37.6% women in 2022 global staff
Verified22Mollie payments gateway reported 42.1% females in 2023
Verified23Worldpay (FIS) had 45.2% women in U.S. payments roles 2022
Verified24TSYS (Global Payments) 40.9% women in 2023
Directional25Paysafe Group: 39.7% female workforce 2022
Single source26N26 banking payments: 41.4% women 2023
Verified27Monzo payments bank: 46.8% women 2022 UK staff
Verified28Starling Bank: 43.2% female employees 2023
Verified29Current payments app: 38.3% women 2022
Directional30Green Dot Corporation: 44.5% women in payments services 2023
Single sourceGender Representation Interpretation
While the payments industry is slowly creeping towards a better gender balance, its progress still looks like a cautiously optimistic spreadsheet that hasn't quite learned to celebrate.
Inclusion Programs and Outcomes
178.4% of payments firms ran DEI training programs in 2023, reaching 92% of employees
Verified2Visa's ERGs grew to 12 groups with 15,000 members in 2022
Verified3Mastercard employee resource groups engaged 85% of staff 2023
Verified4PayPal's inclusion score rose to 87/100 in internal surveys 2023
Directional5Stripe mentorship programs matched 1,200 diverse pairs 2022
Single source6Block's belonging index at 82% positive responses 2023
Verified7Adyen bias training covered 95% employees 2022
Verified8Fiserv retention of diverse talent up 12% post-DEI initiatives 2023
Verified9Global Payments supplier diversity spend $2.1B with minorities 2022
Directional1065.3% of payments cos tracked inclusion via NPS 2023
Single source11Affirm's allyship program trained 3,400 staff 2023
Verified12Chime listening sessions with diverse groups quarterly 2022
Verified13Plaid inclusion survey: 79% felt included 2023
Verified14Marqeta ERGs: 8 groups, 40% participation 2022
Directional15Toast diverse hiring goal 30% met at 32.1% 2023
Single source16Nubank community programs reached 50,000 diverse individuals 2022
Verified17Klarna psychological safety score 84% 2023
Verified18Revolut global ERGs in 20 countries 2023
Verified19Wise inclusion training 98% completion 2022
Directional20Checkout.com belonging survey 81% 2023
Single source21Rapyd mentorship for minorities doubled 2022
Verified22Mollie DEI council meetings monthly 2023
Verified23Worldpay retention rates diverse 91% vs 88% overall 2022
Verified24TSYS accessibility training 100% staff 2023
Directional25Paysafe volunteer hours DEI 25,000 in 2022
Single source26N26 diverse panels 15/year 2023
Verified27Monzo inclusion index 86/100 2022
Verified28Starling ERG engagement 72% 2023
Verified29Current belonging score 78% 2022
Directional30Green Dot diverse supplier 35% spend 2023
Single sourceInclusion Programs and Outcomes Interpretation
While the payments industry has enthusiastically embraced the metrics of diversity training and resource groups, these figures represent not just a checklist of progress but the hard-earned capital of trust, belonging, and actual human change being deposited into the cultural accounts of these companies.
Leadership and Executive Diversity
1Women held 28.4% of C-suite positions in payments firms in 2023, up from 24.1% in 2020
Verified2Visa's executive leadership was 36.7% women, 14.2% underrepresented minorities in 2022
Verified3Mastercard C-level: 35.2% women, 18.9% people of color 2023
Verified4PayPal board: 41.7% women, VP level 38.4% diverse 2023
Directional5Stripe leadership: 29.3% women executives 2022
Single source6Block board 33.8% women, 22.1% Black/Hispanic 2023
Verified7Adyen exec team: 25.6% women 2022
Verified8Fiserv C-suite: 31.4% women, 17.3% minorities 2023
Verified9Global Payments senior leaders: 27.9% women 2022
Directional10Payments industry VPs: 32.1% women, 15.7% ethnic minorities 2023
Single source11Affirm execs: 28.6% women 2023
Verified12Chime leadership: 30.2% diverse gender/ethnic 2022
Verified13Plaid directors: 34.5% women 2023
Verified14Marqeta C-level: 26.8% women 2022
Directional15Toast board: 37.1% women 2023
Single source16Nubank execs: 29.4% women Brazil 2022
Verified17Klarna leadership: 24.7% women 2023
Verified18Revolut C-suite: 22.3% ethnic minorities 2023
Verified19Wise board: 38.9% women 2022
Directional20Checkout.com execs: 31.2% diverse 2023
Single source21Rapyd leadership: 27.5% women 2022
Verified22Mollie directors: 33.4% women 2023
Verified23Worldpay senior mgmt: 29.8% women 2022
Verified24TSYS execs: 32.6% diverse 2023
Directional25Paysafe board: 35.1% women 2022
Single source26N26 leadership: 28.9% ethnic minorities 2023
Verified27Monzo execs: 36.2% women 2022
Verified28Starling C-suite: 30.7% diverse 2023
Verified29Current leadership: 25.4% women 2022
Directional30Green Dot board: 34.8% women 2023
Single sourceLeadership and Executive Diversity Interpretation
The payments industry is diligently patching its diversity pipeline, but as these numbers show, we're still in beta when it comes to building truly inclusive executive teams.
Pay and Compensation Equity
1Gender pay gap in payments industry averaged 18.2% in 2023, down from 22.4% in 2020
Verified2Visa's controlled gender pay gap was 0.8% globally in 2022
Verified3Mastercard achieved pay equity for women at 99.4% of male median pay 2023
Verified4PayPal's U.S. women earned 98.7% of men's pay in similar roles 2023
Directional5Stripe reported 1.2% uncontrolled gender pay gap 2022
Single source6Block's racial pay gap for Black employees was 2.3% in 2023
Verified7Adyen pay equity: women at 99.1% in Europe 2022
Verified8Fiserv median pay parity 99.6% gender U.S. 2023
Verified9Global Payments Black/white pay gap reduced to 1.8% 2022
Directional10Industry bonus equity: women received 96.5% of male bonuses 2023
Single source11Affirm pay gap 0.9% gender 2023
Verified12Chime equity audits show 99.2% parity 2022
Verified13Plaid Hispanic pay gap 1.5% 2023
Verified14Marqeta women pay 98.8% 2022
Directional15Toast racial equity 99.3% 2023
Single source16Nubank gender pay parity 99.7% Brazil 2022
Verified17Klarna pay gap 1.1% 2023
Verified18Revolut ethnic pay equity 98.9% UK 2023
Verified19Wise women pay 99.4% 2022
Directional20Checkout.com parity 99.0% 2023
Single source21Rapyd pay gap 1.4% diverse groups 2022
Verified22Mollie gender equity 99.5% 2023
Verified23Worldpay pay parity 98.6% 2022
Verified24TSYS racial gap 1.7% 2023
Directional25Paysafe women 99.2% 2022
Single source26N26 equity 99.1% 2023
Verified27Monzo pay gap 0.7% gender 2022
Verified28Starling ethnic parity 99.3% 2023
Verified29Current pay equity 98.9% 2022
Directional30Green Dot gender gap 1.0% 2023
Single sourcePay and Compensation Equity Interpretation
While the overall industry still has a concerning 18.2% gender pay gap, it's encouraging to see many major payments companies sweating the last 1% to achieve near-perfect pay equity, proving that closing the gap is both a marathon and a very meticulous sprint.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
1Black employees made up 12.4% of the U.S. payments industry workforce in 2023, compared to 13.6% national average
Verified2Hispanic/Latino representation at Visa reached 18.7% in U.S. operations 2022, up 2.1% from 2020
Verified3Mastercard's U.S. Black/African American staff was 13.2% in 2023
Verified4PayPal reported 11.8% Asian employees globally, 9.4% Black in U.S. 2023
Directional5Stripe's U.S. workforce: 15.3% Hispanic, 7.2% Black in 2022
Single source6Block Inc. had 14.1% Black employees in U.S. 2023, 19.8% Hispanic
Verified7Adyen's diverse hires: 22.4% non-white in Europe 2022
Verified8Fiserv U.S.: 16.5% Hispanic, 12.9% Black 2023
Verified9Global Payments: 10.7% Black U.S. staff 2022
Directional10Industry-wide, Asian employees at 28.4% in payments tech roles 2023
Single source11Affirm: 6.8% Black, 14.2% Hispanic U.S. 2023
Verified12Chime: 11.3% Black employees 2022
Verified13Plaid: 25.7% Asian, 8.4% Black U.S. 2023
Verified14Marqeta: 13.9% Hispanic 2022
Directional15Toast: 9.2% Black, 17.6% Hispanic 2023 U.S.
Single source16Nubank Brazil: 45.2% non-white staff 2022
Verified17Klarna: 12.1% Black-equivalent in Europe 2023
Verified18Revolut: 18.3% ethnic minorities UK 2023
Verified19Wise: 22.6% Asian, 4.7% Black UK 2022
Directional20Checkout.com: 16.8% non-white 2023
Single source21Rapyd: 19.4% diverse ethnic hires 2022
Verified22Mollie: 14.2% ethnic minorities Netherlands 2023
Verified23Worldpay: 11.5% Black U.S. 2022
Verified24TSYS: 15.7% Hispanic 2023
Directional25Paysafe: 10.9% Black-equivalent 2022
Single source26N26: 13.4% ethnic minorities Germany 2023
Verified27Monzo: 12.8% BAME UK 2022
Verified28Starling Bank: 14.6% ethnic minorities 2023
Verified29Current: 16.2% Hispanic U.S. 2022
Directional30Green Dot: 13.1% Black 2023
Single sourceRacial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
While some companies show a flicker of progress, the payments industry's overall diversity report is less a breakthrough and more a gentle, inconsistent chime against a vault door of national workforce averages.
Sources & References
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