This article explores gender-specific features of work motivation among male and female municipal employees with different statuses of professional identity. The diagnostic tools used in the study included the Structure of Work Motivation test (A. G. Shmelev et al.) and the Professional Identity Research Methodology (L. B. Schneider). The sample consisted of 220 municipal employees (79 men and 141 women). Significant gender differences in work motivation have been identified: men with the status of “achieved identity” are more oriented toward social recognition of their merits, while women with the same status are more focused on the internal sense of a well-done job. Men with the status of “pseudo-identity” tend to follow established rules and traditions of professional culture, whereas women with the same status are more oriented to following their own internal guidelines and flexibly interpreting culturally established rules and traditions based on their personal beliefs. The findings are relevant for the development of differentiated adaptation and retention programs for municipal personnel.
