Nonunion Worker Pay Is Significantly Lower in Nearly All Occupational Groups

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The Union Difference

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Nonunion Worker Pay Is Significantly Lower in Nearly All Occupational Groups

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In nearly every occupational category, workers who are not members of unions have smaller paychecks than union members. By comparing the wages of workers within occupational groups, the cost of not being able to bargain collectively is clear.

Earnings by Occupation, 2009
Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers' Median Weekly Earnings
		Union MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS	Nonunion MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS	NONUNION WEEKLY LOSS IN PAY	NONUNION ANNUALIZED LOSS IN PAY
Natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations		1013	664	349	18148
	Construction and extraction occupations	1019	633	386	20072
	Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations	1001	745	256	13312
Service occupations		707	447	260	13520
	Healthcare support occupations	503	467	36	1872
	Protective service occupations	980	629	351	18252
	Food preparation and serving related occupations	503	402	101	5252
	Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations	590	421	169	8788
	Personal care and service occupations	564	440	124	6448
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations		809	564	245	12740
	Production occupations	801	569	232	12064
	Transportation and material moving occupations	816	557	259	13468
Sales and office occupations		745	621	124	6448
	Sales and related occupations	678	665	13	676
	Office and administrative support occupations	754	607	147	7644
Professional and related occupations		1040	998	42	2184
	Computer and mathematical occupations	1074	1311	-237	-12324
	Architecture and engineering occupations	1285	1252	33	1716
	Life, physical, and social science occupations	1160	1038	122	6344
	Community and social services occupations	955	759	196	10192
	Legal occupations	1358	1199	159	8268
	Education, training, and library occupations	1008	811	197	10244
	Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations	1015	915	100	5200
	Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations	1098	967	131	6812
Management, business, and financial operations occupations		1145	1156	-11	-572
	Management occupations	1187	1231	-44	-2288
	Business and financial operations occupations	1048	1035	13	676
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members in 2010, Jan. 2011, Table 4. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation, occupation and industry.