Union workers earn moreThrough collective bargaining, unions have helped raise the standard of living for millions of American workers. There is a distinct economic advantage in belonging to a union and working under a union contract - and particularly under an IUOE-negotiated collective bargaining agreement.
Unions Raises Wages—Especially for Minorities and Women
Union membership helps raise workers' pay and narrow the income gap that disadvantages minorities and women. Union workers earn 28 percent more than nonunion workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary work were $781 in 2004, compared with $612 for their nonunion counterparts.
The union wage benefit is even greater for minorities and women. Union women earn 34 percent more than nonunion women, African American union members earn 29 percent more than their nonunion counterparts, for Latino workers, the union advantage totals 59 percent and for Asian workers, the union advantage is 11 percent.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Earnings, January 2007
Union Pay Is Higher in Nearly All Occupational Groups
In nearly every occupational category, union members earn more than nonunion workers. By comparing the wages of workers within occupational groups, the union difference is most clear.
UNION AND NONUNION EARNINGS BY OCCUPATION, 2006
Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers’ Median Weekly Earnings
| Occupation |
Union |
Nonunion |
% Difference |
2004 Data | | Management, professional and related occupations | $921 | $918 |
-.206% | .33% | | Management, business and financial operations occupations |
$1042 | $1044 |
-.19% | -.21% | | Management occupations |
$1,144 |
$1,125 |
1.69% |
1.43% | | Business and financial operations occupations |
$950 |
$928 |
2.37% |
4.27% | | Professional and related occupations |
$956 |
$921 |
3.8% |
4.57% | | Computer and mathematical occupations |
$1,057 |
$1,170 |
-9.66% |
-11.03% | | Architecture and engineering occupations |
$1,148 |
$1,155 |
-.06% |
-1.826% | | Life, physical and social science occupations |
$1114 |
$977 |
12.3% |
.63% | | Community and social services occupations |
$886 |
$707 |
25.32% |
24.17% | | Legal Occupations |
$1,422 |
$1,136 |
25.18% |
10.96% | | Education, training and library occupations |
$929 |
$725 |
28.14% |
30.86% | | Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations |
$968 |
$823 |
17.62% |
26.39% | | Health care practitioner and technical occupations |
$995 |
$889 |
11.92% |
11.53% | | Service occupations |
$638 |
$404 |
57.92% |
68.38% | | Health care support occupations |
$484 |
$417 |
16.07% |
14.21% | | Protective service occupations | $918 | $585 | 56.92% | 56.96% | | Food preparation and serving related occupations | $484 | $366 |
32.24% | 25.35% | | Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations | $524 | $393 | 33.33% | 39.95% | | Personal care and service occupations | $530 |
$397 | 33.50% | 32.49% | | Sales and office occupations | $706 | $578 | 22.14% | 21.47% | | Sales and related occupations | $671 | $627 |
7.02% | -4.95% | | Office and administrative support occupations | $713 | $549 |
29.87% | 30.25% | | Natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations | $934 | $608 |
53.62% | 49.23% | | Construction and extraction occupations | $941 | $582 |
61.68% | 55.14% | | Installation, maintenance and repair occupations | $931 | $709 | 31.31% | 33.84% | | Production, transportation and material moving occupations | $741 | $519 |
42.77% | 37.95% | | Production occupations | $730 | $525 | 39.05% | 35.39% | | Transportation and material moving occupations | $752 | $512 | 46.87% | 41.55% |
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Major occupational categories are in bold. Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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