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
$1,009
$657
$352
$18,304
Construction and extraction occupations
$1,023
$643
$380
$19,760
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
$999
$733
$266
$13,832
Service occupations
$702
$435
$267
$13,884
Healthcare support occupations
$518
$464
$54
$2,808
Protective service occupations
$992
$611
$381
$19,812
Food preparation and serving related occupations
$463
$395
$68
$3,536
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
$597
$418
$179
$9,308
Personal care and service occupations
$576
$429
$147
$7,644
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
$786
$578
$208
$10,816
Production occupations
$783
$587
$196
$10,192
Transportation and material moving occupations
$789
$563
$226
$11,752
Sales and office occupations
$768
$613
$155
$8,060
Sales and related occupations
$678
$665
$13
$676
Office and administrative support occupations
$782
$595
$187
$9,724
Professional and related occupations
$1,036
$983
$53
$2,756
Computer and mathematical occupations
$1,078
$1,263
-$185
-$9,620
Architecture and engineering occupations
$1,230
$1,271
-$41
-$2,132
Life, physical, and social science occupations
$1,099
$1,040
$59
$3,068
Community and social services occupations
$957
$746
$211
$10,972
Legal occupations
$1,266
$1,191
$75
$3,900
Education, training, and library occupations
$1,010
$782
$228
$11,856
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
$1,105
$877
$228
$11,856
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations
$1,089
$952
$137
$7,124
Management, business, and financial operations occupations
$1,116
$1,139
-$23
-$1,196
Management occupations
$1,192
$1,208
-$16
-$832
Business and financial operations occupations
$1,002
$995
$7
$364
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members in 2009, Jan. 2010, Table 4. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation, occupation and industry.
