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.
Earnings by Occupation, 2007 Full-Time Wage and Salary Workers' Median Weekly Earnings
Union
Nonunion
% Difference
Management, professional and related occupations
$996
$996
0%
Management occupations
1,172
1,160
1.0%
Business and financial operations occupations
934
950
-1.6%
Professional and related occupations
987
942
4.8%
Computer and mathematical occupations
1,188
1,231
-3.5%
Architecture and engineering occupations
1,179
1,221
-3.4%
Life, physical and social science occupations
1,147
1,036
10.7%
Community and social services occupations
920
732
25.7%
Legal occupations
1,180
1,148
2.8%
Education, training and library occupations
959
742
29.2%
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations
1,000
807
23.9%
Health care practitioner and technical occupations
1,005
906
10.9%
Service occupations
666
421
58.2%
Health care support occupations
502
446
12.6%
Protective service occupations
954
610
56.4%
Food preparation and serving-related occupations
502
379
32.5%
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
551
407
35.4%
Personal care and service occupations
585
420
39.3%
Sales and office occupations
717
587
22.1%
Sales and related occupations
648
643
.1%
Office and administrative support occupations
726
560
29.6%
Natural resources, construction and maintenance occupations
973
617
57.7%
Construction and extraction occupations
976
597
63.5%
Installation, maintenance and repair occupations
975
709
37.5%
Production, transportation and material moving occupations
759
540
40.6%
Production occupations
761
552
37.9%
Transportation and material moving occupations
757
523
44.7%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members in 2006, Jan. 25, 2007, Table 4. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation, occupation and industry.
