Union vs. Non-Union Wages: What BLS Data Shows

Labor unions represent workers in collective bargaining, negotiating wages, benefits, and working conditions with employers. The union wage premium — the difference between union and non-union wages for comparable workers — is well-documented in labor economics research. BLS OEWS data reflects this premium, though the data isn't broken out by union status.

How to Infer Union Effects in OEWS Data

BLS OEWS doesn't tag individual workers as union or non-union. However, the geographic variation in OEWS wages for trades and public safety occupations closely tracks union density by state. States with strong union presence — Illinois, New York, California, Alaska — consistently show higher wages for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and construction managers than right-to-work states in the South.

Occupations Most Affected

The union premium is largest for manual and skilled trades occupations, public safety (police, fire, corrections), transportation (trucking, airlines), and healthcare support workers (nursing assistants in unionized hospitals). The premium is smallest or absent for professional and managerial occupations.

BLS Union Membership Data

BLS publishes separate union membership statistics (CPS data) that show union rates by occupation and state. Combining these with OEWS wage data provides a fuller picture of how unionization affects wages in your occupation and market. Browse all locations to compare high- and low-union-density states for your occupation.