Union members in low-wage occupations on average earn a great deal more than nonunion workers in the same occupations, often lifting their earnings above the official poverty level. For example, union cashiers in 2006 earned an average of $11.87—46 percent more than nonunion workers in the same occupation. Over a year’s time, having a union card could translate into more than $7,800 in additional pay for such a low wage worker. While the nonunion cashier’s earnings, on average, leaves a worker $3,746 below the poverty line for a family of four, the union cashier’s earnings, on average, brings the worker $4,075 above the poverty line for a family of four.
average hourly earnings of union and nonunion workers in selected occupations, 2006
Union
Nonunion
Hourly Wage ($)
Annualized Earnings ($)
Amount Above Poverty Line ($)
Hourly Wage ($)
Annualized Earnings ($)
Amount Above Poverty Line ($)
Union Wage Advantage (%)
Cashiers
$11.87
$24,690
$4,075
$8.11
$16,869
-$3,746
46.4%
Child Care Workers
$10.84
$22,547
$1,932
$8.59
$17,867
-$2,748
26.2%
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
$13.34
$27,747
$7,132
$8.87
$18,450
-$2,165
50.4%
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
$10.09
$20,987
$372
$8.00
$16,640
-$3,975
26.1%
Cooks
$12.45
$25,896
$5,281
$8.61
$17,909
-$2,706
44.6%
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
$10.43
$21,694
$1,079
$8.02
$16,682
-$3,933
30.0%
Food Preparation Workers
$11.95
$24,856
$4,241
$7.98
$16,598
-$4,017
49.7%
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
$13.45
$27,976
$7,361
$9.39
$19,531
-$1,084
43.2%
Library Assistants, Clerical
$13.94
$28,995
$8,380
$9.76
$20,301
-$314
42.8%
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
$11.91
$24,773
$4,158
$9.06
$18,845
-$1,770
31.5%
Other Protective Service Workers, Including Life Guards
$14.73
$30,638
$10,023
$9.65
$20,072
-$543
52.6%
Packers and Packagers, Hand
$11.62
$24,170
$3,555
$9.36
$19,469
-$1,146
24.1%
Personal and Home Care Aides
$10.38
$21,590
$975
$9.15
$19,032
-$1,583
13.4%
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
$21.50
$44,720
$24,105
$9.12
$18,970
-$1,645
135.7%
Waiters and Waitresses
$14.30
$29,744
$9,129
$9.81
$20,405
-$210
45.8%
* To surpass the poverty level for a family of four, a worker needs to earn an hourly wage of at least $9.92 (full-time, year round). The poverty line in 2006 for a family of four was $20,615.
Source: Barry T. Hirsch and David A. MacPherson, Union Membership and Earnings Data Book, BNA, 2007, forthcoming; U.S. Census Bureau, Preliminary Estimates of Weighted Average Poverty Thresholds for 2006, Jan. 24, 2007. Prepared by the AFL-CIO.
