Women executives earn only half as much as their male counterparts despite significant salary and career gains since 1980, a Heidrick & Struggles Inc. survey shows.

The study of women executives at the nation's Fortune 1000 companies shows that from the vice president's level on up, the average salary for women during 1986 was $124,623. In a separate survey in 1985, the executive-search consulting firm discovered that their male counterparts averaged $213,000.

The survey does show significant gains since 1980, however, the last time Heidrick & Struggles did a similar study. In 1986, the typical female officer's cash compensation was $116,810. In 1980, less than 10% of the group earned that much. More-over, four out of five women surveyed have reached the vice president level or above; in 1980, only one-third had. The overwhelming majority of the respondents were promoted from within their companies.

A description of the typical female executive is a contrast to her male colleagues, the study shows. According to the report, she is 44 years old, white and Protestant and has no children. Forty-one percent of the women are unmarried, compared with only 7.5% of the men. Female executives think many high-achieving women forgo children to stay on the corporate fast track.

Her 55 hours-per-week office life doesn't always derive satisfaction for her efforts. More than half of the women officers say they believe women are increasingly becoming self-employed because of managers' continued "discomfort" with women in executive posts.

Despite this, she wouldn't stay at home even if she were paid her full salary to do so.

Still other survey results include:

  • Women find that their high rank sometimes causes conflicts with spouses. One of five married female executives resolves relocation conflicts by allowing the spouse with the higher pay to govern those decisions. But of those earning more than $160,000, one of four solves those problems with a commuter marriage.
  • Forty-two percent of the women said there should be a national parental leave policy guaranteeing mothers or fathers their jobs if they take time off to be with their newborn infants, but 40% disagreed.
  • More than three-fourths believe "dressing for success" isn't limited to a suit and blouse at the office.
  • When asked who is the "most influential woman in American business today," the women surveyed most frequently cited Katherine Graham, chairwoman and chief executive officer of Washington Post Co.

Released in December 1986, the Heidrick & Struggles survey based its results on responses from about half of the 412 women sent questionnaires.