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Differences in Union and Nonunion Earnings in Blue-collar and Service

Occupations

by Ann C. Foster

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Originally Posted: June 25, 2003

An examination of union and nonunion earnings distributions showed that nonunion workers were more apt to be in the lower

earnings ranges; the extent of unionization among both blue-collar and service occupations was lower in the private sector

than in State and local government.

Although union wages have not risen as fast as nonunion wages in recent years, union workers still earn more, on average,

than their nonunion counterparts. Estimates of Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC), for example, show that

in March 2001, wages and salaries for private industry union workers averaged $18.36 per hour, compared with $14.81 for

nonunion workers.1 Similarly, data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) show that in 2000, median weekly earnings of

full-time wage and salary workers were $691 for workers represented by unions, compared with $542 for nonunion workers.

Finally, data from the 1999 National Compensation Survey (NCS) show that union workers had average hourly earnings of

$18.31, compared with $14.76 for nonunion workers.2

Using data from the 1997 NCS, an earlier study by this author examined differences in union and nonunion earnings for

major occupational groups within the total economy, private industry, and State and local government.3 In almost all groups,

union workers enjoyed a salary advantage over nonunion workers. This article extends the earlier study by using more

detailed data from the 1997 NCS to examine union and nonunion earnings distributions for blue-collar and service

occupational groups. In addition, the present study examines union and nonunion earnings differences for selected bluecollar and service occupations in the total economy, private industry, and State and local government, and the extent to

which workers in these occupations are unionized.

Union Status Defined

In the National Compensation Survey, a worker is in a union occupation when the following conditions are met: • A labor organization is recognized as the bargaining agent for all workers in the occupation. • Wage and salary rates are determined through collective bargaining or through negotiations. • Settlement terms, which must include earnings provisions and may include benefit provisions, are embodied in a

signed, mutually binding collective bargaining agreement.4

In the 1997 NCS, 23 percent of all workers were unionized. This proportion, however, varied by occupation, as unionized

workers made up 18 percent of those in white-collar occupations, 34 percent of those in blue-collar occupations, and 21

percent of those in service occupations.5

In contrast to the NCS data on union membership, data from the Current Population Survey indicate that 15.6 percent of all

wage and salary workers were represented by unions in 1997.6 The higher rate of unionization in the NCS sample may be

due to the exclusion of establishments with fewer than 50 employees, which tend to have lower unionization rates than do

larger establishments. In addition, the geographic scope of the 1997 NCS was limited to the 48 contiguous States.7

Occupational Categories Examined

This study examines union and nonunion earnings distributions for all blue-collar occupations combined, for the four bluecollar major occupational groups,8 and for the five largest specific occupations within each major blue-collar group--defined

as the five occupations employing the greatest number of workers. In precision production, craft, and repair occupations, the

specific occupation electrical and electronic equipment assemblers--one of the largest in the group--was excluded because
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only nonunion earnings data were available for that occupation.9 The major blue-collar groups and the specific occupations

within them that were examined are as follows:

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations: • Industrial machinery repairers

• Mechanics and repairers, not elsewhere classified

• Electricians

• Supervisors, production

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors: • Fabricating machine operators, not elsewhere classified

• Textile sewing machine operators

• Miscellaneous machine operators, not elsewhere classified

• Assemblers

• Production inspectors, checkers, and examiners

Transportation and material moving occupations: • Truck drivers

• Driver-sales workers

• Bus drivers

• Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators

• Miscellaneous material moving equipment operators, not elsewhere classified

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers: • Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm

• Stock handlers and baggers

• Freight, stock, and material handlers, not elsewhere classified

• Hand packers and packagers

• Laborers, except construction, not elsewhere classified

This study also examines union and nonunion earnings distributions for the major group service occupations, except private

household, as well as for the five specific occupations employing the greatest number of workers in the protective service,

food service, and personal service groups, for two occupations in the health service group, and for three occupations in the

cleaning service group. In the latter two groups, fewer than five occupations were examined, because wage data were not

available for other occupations by union status. These occupational categories and the specific occupations within them that

were examined are as follows:

Protective service occupations: • Firefighting

• Police and detectives, public service

• Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement officers

• Correctional institution officers

• Guards and police, except public service

Food service occupations: • Waiters and waitresses
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• Cooks

• Food counter, fountain, and related occupations

• Kitchen workers, food preparation

• Food preparation, not elsewhere classified

Health service occupations: • Health aides, except nursing

• Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants

Cleaning and building service occupations: • Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers

• Maids and housemen

• Janitors and cleaners

Personal service occupations: • Attendants, amusement and recreation facilities

• Welfare service aides

• Early childhood teachers’ assistants

• Child care workers, not elsewhere classified

• Service occupations, not elsewhere classified

Blue-collar Occupations

Earnings distribution. Average hourly earnings for the 142 union blue-collar occupations in the 1997 NCS sample were

$15.07 and ranged from $7.34 to $26.81. For the 175 nonunion blue-collar occupations in the sample, average hourly

earnings were $10.95, with a range of $6.47 to $21.41.10

Average hourly earnings were not less than $5.00 per hour in any of the 317 blue-collar occupations.11 In addition, average

hourly earnings were in the range of $5.00 to $9.99 per hour in only 5 percent of union occupations, while earnings in almost

a third (32 percent) of nonunion occupations fell into that range.12 Average earnings ranged from $10.00 to $14.99 per hour

in 43 percent of union occupations, compared with a little more than half (51 percent) of nonunion occupations. In contrast,

workers in 52 percent of union occupations earned at least $15.00 per hour, compared with only 17 percent of nonunion

occupations. (See chart 1.)

Unionization. Although a third of all blue-collar workers were unionized, the proportion of unionized blue-collar workers in

private industry was lower than the comparable proportion in State and local government (32 percent, compared with 50

percent). Similar patterns were found within the four major (blue-collar) occupational groups. In private industry, the

proportion of unionized workers ranged from 5 percent among groundskeepers and gardeners to 61 percent among

electricians. In the public sector, the proportion of union workers ranged from 40 percent among miscellaneous machine

operators to 62 percent among industrial machinery repairers. (See table 1.)

For all major blue-collar occupational groups, unionized workers in all categories (all industries, private industry, and State

and local government) enjoyed a wage advantage over their nonunion counterparts. (See table 2.)

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations. These occupations are involved in the fabricating, processing, and

inspecting or repairing of material, products, or structural units. This major group includes mechanics and repairers, the

construction trades, and precision production occupations that involve work on a variety of materials such as metal, wood,

and textiles.
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In 1997, 62 percent of the workers in this major occupational group were not represented by a union. Those workers who

were represented by a union had average hourly earnings of $18.01, with a range of $10.59 to $26.81. By contrast, nonunion

workers averaged $14.53 per hour, with a range of $7.73 to $21.41. The union earnings advantage of around $3.50 per hour

was also found in private industry and State and local government (where half of all workers were unionized). Most (85

percent) union occupations had average hourly earnings of $15.00 or more, while almost 70 percent of nonunion occupations

averaged less than $15.00 per hour. (See chart 2.)

Among industrial machinery repairers, unionized workers averaged $17.75 per hour, compared with $15.00 per hour for their

nonunion counterparts, a pay differential of $2.75. In private industry, these figures were similar. In State and local

government, however, the earnings differential was $4.68.

Among mechanics and repairers, not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.),13 the wage differential was similar for private industry and

State and local government workers ($3.86 and $3.81, respectively). Average hourly earnings, however, differed by sector,

with unionized workers averaging $18.18 per hour in private industry and $15.68 per hour in State and local government.

Among nonunion workers, these averages were $14.32 and $11.87, respectively.

In all three groups, approximately three-fifths of electricians were unionized. In private industry, unionized electricians earned

an average of $21.05 per hour, compared with $15.11 for nonunion electricians. In the public sector, these figures were

$18.07 and $13.51, respectively. The wage differential was greater in private industry ($5.94) than in the public sector

($4.56).

Production supervisor was the only occupation in which nonunion workers may have had higher average hourly earnings

than union workers. These differences, however, were not statistically significant.14 None of the remaining occupations in the

group precision production, craft, and repair was found in the public sector.

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors. Typical occupations in this major group are of the "semi-skilled, bluecollar" type in which workers may perform repetitive manual or machine operations, set up and operate machinery, assemble

products, or tend to and control the machines.

Union machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors had average hourly earnings of $13.83, with a range of $7.85 to

$19.07. Their nonunion counterparts, however, had average hourly earnings of $9.75, with a range of $6.80 to $13.94. None

of the occupations had average hourly earnings of less than $5.00 per hour or earnings of $20.00 or more per hour. More

than half (52 percent) of the nonunion occupations had average hourly earnings in the range of $5.00 to $9.99, with the

remaining occupations in the $10.00-$14.99 range. Most (93 percent) union occupations averaged between $10.00 and

$19.99 an hour. (See chart 3.)

In private industry, unionized machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors earned $13.82 per hour, compared with $9.75

for their nonunion counterparts. In State and local government, unionized workers had average hourly earnings of $14.42,

while nonunion workers had average hourly earnings of $9.81.

Among miscellaneous machine operators, not elsewhere classified, unionized workers in all groups enjoyed a wage

advantage over their nonunion counterparts.

In private industry, unionized workers had higher average hourly earnings than nonunion workers in the following

occupations: fabricating machine operators, not elsewhere classified; assemblers; and production inspectors, checkers, and

examiners. Although unionized textile sewing machine operators in private industry had higher average hourly earnings than

nonunion workers, the difference was not statistically significant.

Transportation and material moving occupations. Workers in these occupations are involved in the operation and

performance of vehicles that transport people or material. These workers may also be involved in operating material moving

equipment, such as cranes that load cargo onto ships. Unionized workers in this group had average hourly earnings of

$15.62, with a range of $9.38 to $24.33, while their nonunion counterparts had average hourly earnings of $11.65, with a

range of $6.47 to $17.48. Most (89 percent) nonunion occupations had average hourly earnings of less than $15.00, with the
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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remainder in the $15.00-$19.99 range. In contrast, two thirds of all union occupations had average hourly earnings of $15.00

or more. (See chart 4.)

Unionized truck drivers in private industry had average hourly earnings of $16.70, compared with $12.71 for nonunion truck

drivers. In State and local government, the comparable figures were $14.58 and $10.07, respectively. Unionized bus drivers

in private industry earned an average of $11.93 per hour, compared with $9.27 for their nonunion counterparts. In State and

local government, the comparable figures were $14.61 and $10.26, respectively. For both bus drivers and truck drivers, the

wage differential was greater in the public sector than in the private sector.

Unionized industrial truck and tractor equipment operators in private industry enjoyed a wage advantage over their nonunion

counterparts. In State and local government, on the other hand, wage differences between union and nonunion workers in

this occupational group were not statistically significant.

The union wage advantage in the category miscellaneous material moving equipment operators, not elsewhere classified,

was significant for workers in both the private and public sectors. This wage advantage was $4.87 in the private sector and

$4.24 in the public sector.

Among driver sales workers (found only in private industry), unionized workers had a wage advantage of $4.10 over their

nonunion counterparts.

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. Workers in these occupations perform unskilled, simple duties that

primarily are manual, that may be learned in a short amount of time, and that involve little or no independent judgment. These

occupations usually require little or no experience and may involve moderate to strenuous exertion.

Unionized handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers had average hourly earnings of $11.76, with a range of $9.77

to $21.40. Their nonunion counterparts had average hourly earnings of $8.33, with a range of $6.50 to $15.78. The unskilled

nature of the jobs in this major occupational group is reflected in the earnings distribution for both union and nonunion

occupations: 95 percent of nonunion occupations and 83 percent of union occupations had average hourly earnings of less

than $15.00. (See chart 5.)

In private industry, unionized handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers had average hourly earnings of $11.56,

compared with $8.25 for their nonunion counterparts. In State and local government, the comparable figures were $13.16

and $9.73, respectively. Unionized groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm, in private industry had average hourly

earnings of $11.72, compared with $8.09 for their nonunion counterparts. Among those in the public sector, the comparable

figures were $12.75 and $9.09, respectively.

Unionized stock handlers and baggers and unionized laborers, except construction, not elsewhere classified, in both the

private and public sectors enjoyed a wage advantage over their nonunion counterparts. In private industry, unionized freight,

stock, and material handlers, not elsewhere classified, earned an average of $13.22 an hour, compared with $9.19 for their

nonunion counterparts. In State and local government, average hourly earnings figures for this occupation were available

only for nonunion workers. Among hand packers and packagers (found only in private industry), union workers had a wage

advantage of $2.13 over their nonunion counterparts.

Service Workers

Workers in this major occupational group provide a range of services to individuals and establishments. The group includes

protective service occupations, food service occupations, health service occupations, cleaning and building service

occupations, and personal service occupations.

Earnings distribution. Unionized service workers had average hourly earnings of $13.44, with a range of $5.61 to $26.02.

Nonunion service workers averaged $7.81 per hour, with a range of $3.95 to $19.13.

Although union workers in service occupations had a wage advantage over their nonunion counterparts, many of the

occupations in this major occupational group had modest average hourly earnings. One nonunion occupation (waiters and
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waitresses) even had hourly earnings of less than $5.00, not including tips.15 Nearly 70 percent of union occupations had

earnings in the range of $5.00 per hour to $14.99 per hour, while the earnings of 85 percent of nonunion occupations fell into

this range.16 (See chart 6.)

Unionization. Although 21 percent of all service workers were unionized, this proportion was lower in private industry than in

State and local government (12 percent compared with 48 percent). Among private industry occupations, unionized workers

ranged from 3 percent of supervisors, cleaning and building service workers to 27 percent of janitors and cleaners. Among

public sector occupations, unionized workers ranged from 19 percent of kitchen workers, food preparation, to 67 percent of

police and detectives, public service. (See table 3.)

In the protective, food, health, personal, and cleaning and building service occupational subgroups, unionized workers in all

categories (all industries, private industry, and State and local government) enjoyed a wage advantage over their nonunion

counterparts. (See table 4.)

Protective service occupations. Most of the individual protective service occupations examined--firefighting; police and

detectives, public service; sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement officers; and correctional institution officers--were

found in the public sector only.17 In all of these occupations, unionized workers enjoyed a wage advantage over nonunion

workers. For guards and police, except public service, unionized private industry workers earned an average of $11.10 per

hour, compared with $7.76 for their nonunion counterparts. Among public employees, the comparable figures were $13.07

and 10.26, respectively.

Food service occupations. Among waiters and waitresses (found only in private industry), unionized workers averaged

$5.61 per hour, compared with $3.95 per hour for nonunion workers. Among the other individual food service occupations

examined (cooks; food counter, fountain, and related occupations; kitchen workers, food preparation; and food preparation

occupations, not elsewhere classified), unionized workers in all groups enjoyed a wage advantage over their nonunion

counterparts.

Health service occupations. Among health aides, except nursing, and nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants, reported

average hourly earnings for unionized workers were higher than those reported for nonunion workers in all groups. For all

three occupations, differentials were higher in State and local government than in private industry.

Cleaning and building service occupations. In private industry, unionized supervisors of cleaning and building service

workers had average hourly earnings of $12.48, compared with $9.55 for nonunion workers. These differences, however,

were not statistically significant. In State and local government, however, unionized supervisors of cleaning and building

service workers earned an average of $17.64 per hour, compared with $13.06 earned by their nonunion counterparts. Only 3

percent of private industry supervisors were unionized, compared with 35 percent of supervisors in State and local

government.

Among maids and housemen and janitors and cleaners, reported average hourly earnings for unionized workers were higher

than those reported for nonunion workers in both private industry and State and local government. For both occupations,

differentials were greater in State and local government than in private industry.

Personal service occupations. In private industry, only nonunion earnings data were available for the occupational

category attendants, amusement and recreational facilities. Union and nonunion earnings differences reported for this

occupation in all industries and State and local government were not statistically significant.

In private industry, unionized welfare service aides had average hourly earnings of $8.35, compared with $6.60 for their

nonunion counterparts. These differences, however, were not statistically significant. In State and local government,

unionized welfare service aides had average hourly earnings of $11.74, compared with $7.89 for their nonunion counterparts.

Virtually all (98 percent) welfare aides in private industry were nonunion, compared with 80 percent of their public sector

counterparts.
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For early childhood teachers’ assistants, the union and nonunion earnings differences found in private industry and State and

local government were not statistically significant. In private industry, there was no statistically significant difference in the

average hourly earnings of union and nonunion child care workers, not elsewhere classified. In State and local government,

unionized child care workers, not elsewhere classified, had higher average hourly earnings than their nonunion counterparts

($10.18 compared to $8.14). In both private industry and State and local government, unionized service workers, not

elsewhere classified, had higher average hourly earnings than their nonunion counterparts.

Although there was some variation among groups, an examination of union and nonunion earnings distributions among bluecollar and service occupations in all industries showed that nonunion workers were more apt to be in the lower earnings

ranges. For example, the only occupation with average hourly earnings of less than $5.00 was for nonunion workers in the

service occupation of waiters and waitresses. Blue-collar workers in 52 percent of union occupations earned $15.00 or more

per hour, compared with 17 percent of nonunion occupations. Service workers in 30 percent of union occupations earned

$15.00 or more per hour, compared with 15 percent of nonunion occupations.

In most of the individual blue-collar and service occupations examined, union workers in all sectors had higher average

hourly earnings than did nonunion workers.18 In the previous article on this topic, however, the author uncovered instances of

unionized white-collar workers in executive, administrative, and managerial occupations and in retail sales occupations with

lower average hourly earnings than their nonunion counterparts.19 A detailed examination of individual occupations is needed

to shed light on union and nonunion wage differences among white-collar workers.

Ann C. Foster

Economist, Division of Compensation Data Analysis and Planning, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Telephone: (202) 691-6199, E-mail: Foster_A@bls.gov

Notes

1 Employment Cost Index (ECI) data show that during the period from June 1991 to December 1999, the average annual percent change in

wages for nonunion workers was 3.8 percent, compared with 3.3 percent for their union counterparts. During the period from December 1999

to December 2000, wages for nonunion workers increased 4 percent compared with 3.4 percent for union workers. For more information, see 

Employment Cost Indexes, 1975-99, Bulletin 2532 (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2000) and Employment Cost Index-December 2000, USDL

01-31, January 25, 2001. For more information on the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation program, see Employer Costs for

Employee Compensation-March 2001, USDL 01-194, June 29, 2001.

2 Although the nature of the union and nonunion relationship is similar in both surveys, the actual dollar amounts found in the CPS and NCS

are not strictly comparable. One reason is that the NCS data are for mean, or average hourly earnings, while CPS data are for median

earnings. A second reason is that the NCS is an establishment survey and the CPS is a household survey. In addition, CPS earnings data are

for full-time workers, while NCS data are for all workers, both full and part time. For more on CPS union and nonunion data, see Union

Members in 2002, USDL 03-88 (Bureau of Labor Statistics) February 25, 2003. For more information on NCS union and nonunion data, see 

National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, 2001, Bulletin 2552 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2001).

3 For more information, see Ann C. Foster, "Union-nonunion Wage Differences, 1997," Compensation and Working Conditions, Spring 2000,

pp. 43-46.

4 The NCS definition is the same as that used in the ECI and Employer Costs for Employee Compensation. For more information, see 

Employment Cost Indexes, 1975-99, Bulletin 2532 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2000), Appendix A, "Technical Note," pp. 170-75.

5 The NCS is designed to support estimates of occupational earnings. Estimates of the number of workers provide a description of the size

and composition of the labor force included in the survey. These estimates are not intended for comparison with other statistical series to

measure employment trends or levels.

6 Union Members in 1997, USDL 98-26 (U.S. Department of Labor), January 30, 1998.

7 For more information on the 1997 NCS sample, see Occupational Wages in the United States, 1997, Bulletin 2519 (Bureau of Labor

Statistics, 1999).

8 The four major occupational groups making up the blue-collar occupations are precision, production, craft, and repair occupations; machine

operators, assemblers, and inspectors; transportation and material moving occupations; and handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and

laborers. In the NCS, a major occupational group refers to a particular occupation group used in the survey. The major occupational groups

are based on the Census Bureau’s occupational classification system. BLS combines the 13 Census Bureau occupational groups into 11

major occupational groups, 9 of which are in scope for the NCS. For more information on the classification system, see Occupational

Classification System Manual, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/ocsm/commain.htm.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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9 Only nonunion data were available because data for union workers did not meet BLS publication standards and therefore were not available

to use in this study.

10 In this analysis, the number of occupations with union earnings data may not equal the number of occupations with nonunion earnings data.

One reason is that some occupations, such as camera, watch, and musical instrument repairers, had no union members. Another reason is

that for some occupations, such as roofers, earnings data for union members did not meet standards for publication and were not included in

the data available for analysis.

11 The current Federal minimum wage for covered, nonexempt employees is $5.15 per hour. The Federal minimum wage provisions are

contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Many states also have minimum wage laws. When an employee is subject to both the State

and Federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two. For more information on the minimum wage, see the

minimum wage page of the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/minimumwage.htm.

12 For the analysis of earnings distributions, union occupations are those occupations for which earnings data for union workers were

available. Similarly, nonunion occupations are those occupations for which earnings data for nonunion workers were available.

13 In the NCS certain occupations are designated "not elsewhere classified" or "n.e.c." Such categories capture the occupations not

specifically classified or included in a separate Census occupation category. For more information, see Occupational Classification System

Manual, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/ocsm/commain.htm.

14 Because NCS data are estimates from a scientifically selected probability sample, they are subject to sampling errors because observations

are not from an entire population. The sample used for this survey is one of a number of possible samples that could have been selected using

the sample design. Estimates derived from the different samples would differ from each other. A measure of the variation among these

differing estimates is the standard error, which indicates the precision with which an estimate from a particular sample approximates the

average results of all possible samples. The relative standard error is the standard error divided by the estimate. It can be used to calculate a 

confidence interval around a sample estimate. In this article, an estimate is considered statistically significant if the confidence interval is at the

90-percent level. In theory, this means that if all possible samples were selected to estimate the population value, the interval from each

sample would include the true population value approximately 90 percent of the time. For more information, see Employment Cost Indexes,

1975-99, Bulletin 2532 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2000), Appendix A, "Technical Note," pp. 170-75.

15 Nonunion waiters and waitresses had average hourly earnings of $3.95. The Fair Labor Standards Act allows an employer to pay tipped

employees (those who customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips), less than the minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. For

more information, see Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act, WH Publication 1282, (U.S. Department of Labor, 1998).

16 In the National Compensation Survey, individual blue-collar occupations are classified into four major occupational groups. Because service

workers are classified into one major occupational group only, no additional wage distribution analyses were done. For more information, see 

National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, 1998, Bulletin 2529 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2000),

Appendix A, "Technical Note," pp. 170-75.

17 While some estimates were provided for private industry nonunion police and detectives, public service, these represented less than 0.5

percent of the all industries sampled.

18 Differences in union and nonunion earnings could reflect factors other than union representation. Among these factors are the specific mix

of occupational categories, the ratio of full- to part-time workers, and the establishment size, industry, and geographic location of an employer.

19 Foster, "Union-nonunion Wage Differences, 1997."

Table 1. Percent distribution of blue-collar workers by bargaining status, 1997

Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion Union Nonunion Union Nonunion

All blue-collar occupations 34 66 32 68 50 50

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations 38 62 37 63 51 49

Footnotes:

(1) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria.

Overall occupational groups may include data for categories not shown separately.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion Union Nonunion Union Nonunion

 Industrial machinery repairers 39 61 38 62 62 38

 Mechanics and repairers, n.e.c. (1) 37 63 35 65 47 53

 Electricians 61 39 61 39 60 40

 Supervisors, production 8 92 7 93 47 53

Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors 31 69 31 69 65 35

 Fabricating machine operators, n.e.c.(1) 44 56 44 56 -- --

 Textile sewing machine operators 10 90 9 91 -- --

 Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.(1) 34 66 34 66 40 60

 Assemblers 35 65 35 65 -- --

 Production inspectors, checkers, and examiners 21 79 22 78 -- -- Transportation and material moving occupations 39 61 36 64 50 50

 Truck drivers 33 67 32 68 56 44

 Driver-sales workers 45 55 45 55 -- --

 Bus drivers 51 49 47 53 52 48

 Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators 44 56 44 56 51 49

 Miscellaneous material moving equipment

 operators, n.e.c.(1) 54 46 57 43 43 57

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers 29 71 28 72 46 54

 Groundskeepers and gardeners, except farm 17 83 5 95 43 57

 Stock handlers and baggers 30 70 30 70 56 46

 Freight, stock, and material handlers, n.e.c.(1) 32 68 32 68 -- 58

 Hand packers and packagers 24 76 24 76 -- --

 Laborers, except construction, n.e.c.(1) 26 74 25 75 42 58

Footnotes:

(1) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria.

Overall occupational groups may include data for categories not shown separately.
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Table 2. Mean hourly earnings(1) by blue-collar occupational group and collective bargaining status, 1997

Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

All blue-collar occupations $15.07 $10.95 $4.12 $15.00 $10.89 $4.11 $15.63 $11.83 $3.80

Precision production,

 craft, and repair

 occupations

18.01 14.53 3.48 18.10 14.59 3.51 17.49 13.90 3.59

 Industrial machinery

 repairers 17.75 15.00 2.75 17.73 15.01 2.72 18.87 14.19 4.68

 Mechanics and

 repairers, n.e.c. (3) 17.49 13.87 3.62 18.18 14.32 3.86 15.68 11.87 3.81

 Electricians 20.55 14.85 5.70 21.05 15.11 5.94 18.07 13.51 4.56

 Supervisors, production 17.17 18.52 -1.35 17.64 18.52 -0.88 15.07 18.19 -3.02

Machine operators,

 assemblers, and

 inspectors

13.83 9.75 4.08 13.82 9.75 4.07 14.42 9.81 4.61

 Fabricating machine

 operators, n.e.c.(3) 15.14 10.64 4.50 15.14 10.64 4.50 -- -- --

 Textile sewing machine

 operators 8.30 7.04 1.26 8.29 7.04 1.25 -- -- --

 Miscellaneous machine

 operators, n.e.c.(3) 14.40 10.08 4.32 14.37 10.08 4.29 -- -- --

 Assemblers 14.46 9.26 5.20 14.46 9.26 5.20 -- -- --

 Production inspectors,

 checkers, and

 examiners

14.16 9.72 4.44 14.16 9.72 4.44 -- -- -- Transportation and

 material moving

 occupations

15.62 11.65 3.97 15.81 11.81 4.00 14.94 10.57 4.37

 Truck drivers 16.47 12.60 3.87 16.70 12.71 3.99 14.58 10.07 4.51

 Driver-sales workers 15.29 11.19 4.10 15.29 11.19 4.10 -- -- --

 Bus drivers 13.68 9.80 3.88 11.93 9.27 2.66 14.61 10.26 4.35

 Industrial truck and

 tractor equipment

 operators

13.25 10.48 2.77 13.27 10.47 2.80 11.61 11.11 0.50

Footnotes:

(1) Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and

hazard pay. Excluded are premium pay for overtime, vacations, holidays, nonproduction bonuses, and tips. The mean is computed by totaling

the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers, weighted by hours.

(2) Differentials are obtained by subtracting nonunion earnings from union earnings.

(3) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria. Overall occupational groups may include data

for categories not shown separately.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 11

Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

 Miscellaneous material

 moving equipment

 operators, n.e.c.(3)

15.98 11.19 4.79 16.09 11.22 4.87 15.32 11.08 4.24

Handlers, equipment

 cleaners, helpers,

 and laborers

11.76 8.33 3.43 11.56 8.25 3.31 13.16 9.73 3.43

 Groundskeepers and

 gardeners, except farm 12.58 8.40 4.18 11.72 8.09 3.63 12.75 9.09 3.66

 Stock handlers and

 baggers 9.85 7.57 2.28 9.82 7.56 2.26 12.08 9.30 2.78

 Freight, stock, and

 material handlers,

 n.e.c.(3)

13.22 9.19 4.03 13.22 9.19 4.03 -- 8.83 --

 Hand packers and

 packagers 9.77 7.64 2.13 9.77 7.64 2.13 -- -- --

 Laborers, except

 construction, n.e.c.(3) 11.33 7.96 3.37 11.07 7.92 3.15 12.65 8.44 4.21

Footnotes:

(1) Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and

hazard pay. Excluded are premium pay for overtime, vacations, holidays, nonproduction bonuses, and tips. The mean is computed by

totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers, weighted by hours.

(2) Differentials are obtained by subtracting nonunion earnings from union earnings.

(3) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria. Overall occupational groups may include data

for categories not shown separately.

Table 3. Percent distribution of workers in service occupations by bargaining status, 1997

Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion Union Nonunion Union Nonunion

All service occupations 21 79 12 88 48 52

Protective service occupations 37 63 7 93 55 45

 Firefighting occupations 58 42 -- -- 59 41

 Police and detectives, public

 service 66 34 -- 100 67 33

Footnotes:

(1) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria. Overall occupational groups may include data

for categories not shown separately.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 12

Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion Union Nonunion Union Nonunion

 Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law

 enforcement officers 44 56 -- -- 44 56

 Correctional institution officers 46 54 -- -- 48 52

 Guards and police, except public

 service 10 90 7 93 59 41

Food service occupations 10 90 7 93 35 65

 Waiters and waitresses 4 96 4 96 -- --

 Cooks 10 90 4 96 39 61

 Food counter, fountain, and

 related occupations 9 91 7 93 39 61

 Kitchen workers, food preparation 20 80 20 80 19 81

 Food preparation occupations,

 n.e.c.(1) 12 88 5 95 42 58

Health service occupations 20 80 15 85 45 55

 Health aides, except nursing 18 82 9 91 48 52

 Nursing aides, orderlies, and

 attendants 21 79 17 83 45 56

 Cleaning and building service

 occupations 29 71 22 78 47 53

 Supervisors, cleaning and building

 service workers 11 89 3 96 35 65

 Maids and housemen 15 85 15 85 27 73

 Janitors and cleaners 34 66 27 73 49 51

Personal service occupations 17 83 10 90 38 62

 Attendants, amusement and

 recreation facilities 5 95 -- 98 20 80

 Welfare service aides 11 89 7 93 32 68

 Early childhood teachers'

 assistants 26 74 4 96 41 59

 Child care workers, n.e.c.(1) 25 75 7 93 45 55

 Service occupations, n.e.c.(1) 11 89 6 94 40 60

Footnotes:

(1) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria. Overall occupational groups may include data

for categories not shown separately.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 13

Table 4. Mean hourly earnings(1) by service occupational group and collective bargaining status, 1997

Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

All service occupations $13.44 $7.81 $5.63 $9.81 $7.19 $2.62 $15.71 $10.72 $4.99

Protective service

 occupations 18.38 10.62 7.76 11.12 8.07 3.05 18.85 13.46 5.39

 Firefighting

 occupations 16.07 11.16 4.91 -- -- -- 16.07 11.19 4.88

 Police and detectives,

 public service 20.27 15.58 4.69 -- 15.74 -- 20.27 15.58 4.69

 Sheriffs, bailiffs, and

 other law enforcement

 officers

18.39 13.02 5.37 -- -- -- 18.39 13.03 5.36

 Correctional institution

 officers 16.71 11.10 5.61 -- -- -- 16.71 11.32 5.39

 Guards and police,

 except public service 11.73 7.82 3.91 11.10 7.76 3.34 13.07 10.26 2.81

Food service

 occupations 8.79 6.29 2.50 8.28 6.17 2.11 9.90 8.11 1.79

 Waiters and

 waitresses 5.61 3.95 1.66 5.61 3.95 1.66 -- -- --

 Cooks 10.50 8.02 2.48 10.61 8.00 2.61 10.40 8.25 2.15

 Food counter,

 fountain,

 and related

 occupations

8.00 5.71 2.29 7.71 5.68 2.03 8.96 6.55 2.41

 Kitchen workers, food

 preparation 8.92 7.06 1.86 8.74 7.01 1.73 9.97 7.34 2.63

 Food preparation

 occupations, n.e.c.(3) 8.99 6.25 2.74 8.49 6.14 2.35 9.44 7.34 2.10

Health service

 occupations 10.11 7.99 2.12 8.80 7.92 0.88 12.14 8.48 3.66

 Health aides, except

 nursing 12.19 8.86 3.33 10.99 8.85 2.14 12.90 8.87 4.03

 Nursing aides,

 orderlies, and

 attendants

9.62 7.73 1.89 8.51 7.66 0.85 11.81 8.29 3.52

Footnotes:

(1) Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and

hazard pay. Excluded are premium pay for overtime, vacations, holidays, nonproduction bonuses, and tips. The mean is computed by totaling

the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers, weighted by hours.

(2) Differentials are obtained by subtracting nonunion earnings from union earnings.

(3) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria. Overall occupational groups may include data

for categories not shown separately.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 14

Occupation

All

industries

Private

industry

State

and

local

government

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Union Nonunion

Differential(2)

Cleaning and building

 service occupations 10.76 7.75 3.01 9.70 7.46 2.24 12.07 8.84 3.23

 Supervisors, cleaning

 and building service

 workers

16.29 10.11 6.18 12.48 9.55 2.93 17.64 13.06 4.58

 Maids and housemen 9.61 6.58 3.03 9.55 6.57 2.98 10.43 6.78 3.65

 Janitors and cleaners 10.65 7.63 3.02 9.66 7.33 2.33 11.72 8.44 3.28

Personal service

 occupations 12.47 8.09 4.38 15.02 8.05 6.97 10.25 8.31 1.94

 Attendants,

 amusement and

 recreation facilities

7.31 6.15 1.16 -- 6.05 -- 7.32 7.09 0.23

 Welfare service aides 10.16 6.78 3.38 8.35 6.60 1.75 11.74 7.89 3.85

 Early childhood

 teachers' assistants 8.67 7.31 1.36 7.92 6.64 1.28 8.73 8.06 0.67

 Child care workers,

 n.e.c.(3) 9.71 7.81 1.90 7.88 7.70 0.18 10.18 8.14 2.04

 Service occupations,

 n.e.c.(3) 10.49 6.85 3.64 9.70 6.72 2.98 11.34 8.96 2.38

Footnotes:

(1) Earnings are the straight-time hourly wages or salaries paid to employees. They include incentive pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and

hazard pay. Excluded are premium pay for overtime, vacations, holidays, nonproduction bonuses, and tips. The mean is computed by

totaling the pay of all workers and dividing by the number of workers, weighted by hours.

(2) Differentials are obtained by subtracting nonunion earnings from union earnings.

(3) n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or that data did not meet publication criteria. Overall occupational groups may include data

for categories not shown separately.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 15

Data for Chart 1. Distribution of union and nonunion average hourly earnings for blue-collar workers, 1997

Percent of occupations Less than $5.00 $5.00 to $9.99 $10.00 to $14.99 $15.00 to $19.99 $20.00 or more

Union -- 5 43 37 15

Nonunion -- 32 51 15 2

Data for Chart 2. Distribution of union and nonunion average hourly earnings for precision production, craft, and repair

occupations, 1997

Percent of occupations Less than $5.00 $5.00 to $9.99 $10.00 to $14.99 $15.00 to $19.99 $20.00 or more

Union -- -- 15 55 30
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 16

Percent of occupations Less than $5.00 $5.00 to $9.99 $10.00 to $14.99 $15.00 to $19.99 $20.00 or more

Nonunion -- 8 60 29 4

Data for Chart 3. Distribution of union and nonunion average hourly earnings for machine operators, assemblers, and

inspectors, 1997

Percent of occupations Less than $5.00 $5.00 to $9.99 $10.00 to $14.99 $15.00 to $19.99 $20.00 or more

Union -- 7 76 17 -- Nonunion -- 52 48 -- --
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 17

Data for Chart 4. Distribution of union and nonunion average hourly earnings for transportation and material moving

occupations, 1997

Percent of occupations Less than $5.00 $5.00 to $9.99 $10.00 to $14.99 $15.00 to $19.99 $20.00 or more

Union -- 6 28 50 17

Nonunion -- 28 61 11 --

Data for Chart 5. Distribution of union and nonunion average hourly earnings for handlers, equipment cleaners,

helpers, and laborers, 1997

Percent of occupations Less than $5.00 $5.00 to $9.99 $10.00 to $14.99 $15.00 to $19.99 $20.00 or more

Union -- 11 72 11 6

Nonunion -- 84 11 5 --
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 18

Data for Chart 6. Distribution of union and nonunion average hourly earnings for service occupations, 1997

Percent of occupations Less than $5.00 $5.00 to $9.99 $10.00 to $14.99 $15.00 to $19.99 $20.00 or more

Union -- 36 33 15 15

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