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 clear.
Earnings by Occupation, 2008 Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers' Median Weekly Earnings
Union
Nonunion
% UNION ADVANTAGE
Management, professional and related occupations
$1,028
$1,028
0%
Management occupations
1,235
1,199
3.0%
Business and financial operations occupations
928
978
-5.4%
Professional and related occupations
1,018
973
4.6%
Computer and mathematical occupations
1,149
1,248
-7.9%
Architecture and engineering occupations
1,223
1,244
-1.7%
Life, physical and social science occupations
1,169
1,018
14.8%
Community and social services occupations
983
743
32.3%
Legal occupations
1,186
1,169
1.5%
Education, training and library occupations
974
765
27.3%
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations
1,110
858
29.4%
Health care practitioner and technical occupations
1,070
943
13.5%
Service occupations
691
440
57.0%
Health care support occupations
526
457
15.1%
Protective service occupations
990
620
59.7%
Food preparation and serving-related occupations
502
398
26.1%
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
596
412
44.7%
Personal care and service occupations
580
463
25.3%
Sales and office occupations
741
603
22.9%
Sales and related occupations
679
655
3.7%
Office and administrative support occupations
749
585
28.0%
Natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations
990
647
53.0%
Construction and extraction occupations
992
621
53.0%
Installation, maintenance and repair occupations
1,002
729
37.4%
Production, transportation and material moving occupations
777
560
38.8%
Production occupations
765
567
34.9%
Transportation and material moving occupations
789
550
43.5%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members in 2008, Jan. 2009, Table 4. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation, occupation and industry.
