Union vs Non-Union Trade Wages (2024)
Union trade workers earn an average of 25% more than non-union workers across 50 skilled trades. The highest premiums are in structural trades, where union members earn39% more on average.
All Trades — Union Pay Premium
| # | Trade | Union $/hr | Non-Union $/hr | Premium | Union Annual | Union Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ironworker | $38.90 | $27.99 | +39% | $80,912 | 42.1% |
| 2 | Elevator Mechanic | $49.85 | $36.13 | +38% | $103,688 | 68.2% |
| 3 | Fire Sprinkler Fitter | $39.80 | $29.05 | +37% | $82,784 | 45.6% |
| 4 | Sheet Metal Worker | $37.50 | $27.57 | +36% | $78,000 | 35.4% |
| 5 | Insulation Worker | $34.50 | $25.37 | +36% | $71,760 | 33.2% |
| 6 | Boilermaker | $38.75 | $28.70 | +35% | $80,600 | 52.3% |
| 7 | Mason (Bricklayer) | $35.10 | $26.00 | +35% | $73,008 | 22.9% |
| 8 | Steamfitter | $41.60 | $30.81 | +35% | $86,528 | 38.9% |
| 9 | Pipefitter | $40.12 | $29.94 | +34% | $83,450 | 32.6% |
| 10 | Glazier | $33.80 | $25.22 | +34% | $70,304 | 28.1% |
| 11 | Carpenter | $35.80 | $26.92 | +33% | $74,464 | 17.1% |
| 12 | Pile Driver Operator | $39.20 | $29.47 | +33% | $81,536 | 36.4% |
| 13 | Crane Operator | $40.50 | $30.68 | +32% | $84,240 | 38.7% |
| 14 | Plasterer | $32.90 | $24.92 | +32% | $68,432 | 20.3% |
| 15 | Plumber | $36.85 | $28.13 | +31% | $76,648 | 24.8% |
| 16 | Scaffold Builder | $33.10 | $25.27 | +31% | $68,848 | 24.6% |
| 17 | Millwright | $36.20 | $27.85 | +30% | $75,296 | 28.7% |
| 18 | Concrete Finisher | $32.50 | $25.00 | +30% | $67,600 | 16.4% |
| 19 | Tile Setter | $31.85 | $24.50 | +30% | $66,248 | 12.6% |
| 20 | Heavy Equipment Operator | $36.40 | $28.22 | +29% | $75,712 | 25.3% |
| 21 | Drywall Installer | $31.40 | $24.34 | +29% | $65,312 | 13.2% |
| 22 | Electrician | $38.42 | $30.02 | +28% | $79,914 | 26.3% |
| 23 | Roofer | $30.20 | $23.59 | +28% | $62,816 | 15.7% |
| 24 | Power Line Installer | $42.35 | $33.35 | +27% | $88,088 | 31.5% |
| 25 | Painter (Construction) | $30.60 | $24.29 | +26% | $63,648 | 14.8% |
| 26 | Electrical Power-Line Tech | $43.50 | $34.52 | +26% | $90,480 | 30.8% |
| 27 | Industrial Electrician | $37.10 | $29.68 | +25% | $77,168 | 22.4% |
| 28 | Floor Layer | $29.30 | $23.44 | +25% | $60,944 | 11.9% |
| 29 | Structural Welder | $33.40 | $26.94 | +24% | $69,472 | 18.6% |
| 30 | Refrigeration Mechanic | $34.10 | $27.72 | +23% | $70,928 | 19.8% |
| 31 | HVAC Technician | $33.70 | $27.62 | +22% | $70,096 | 18.5% |
| 32 | Telecommunications Tech | $34.20 | $28.26 | +21% | $71,136 | 19.7% |
| 33 | Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $32.40 | $27.00 | +20% | $67,392 | 16.3% |
| 34 | Underwater Welder | $42.60 | $35.50 | +20% | $88,608 | 15.2% |
| 35 | Machinist | $29.80 | $25.04 | +19% | $61,984 | 13.9% |
| 36 | Welder | $29.45 | $24.96 | +18% | $61,256 | 14.2% |
| 37 | Maintenance Mechanic | $30.50 | $25.85 | +18% | $63,440 | 14.1% |
| 38 | Tool and Die Maker | $31.20 | $26.67 | +17% | $64,896 | 12.8% |
| 39 | Aircraft Mechanic | $38.20 | $32.65 | +17% | $79,456 | 16.9% |
| 40 | Diesel Mechanic | $30.15 | $25.99 | +16% | $62,712 | 11.8% |
| 41 | Solar PV Installer | $27.80 | $24.17 | +15% | $57,824 | 8.4% |
| 42 | Building Inspector | $35.80 | $31.13 | +15% | $74,464 | 12.4% |
| 43 | Wind Turbine Technician | $30.10 | $26.40 | +14% | $62,608 | 9.1% |
| 44 | CNC Machine Operator | $26.80 | $23.51 | +14% | $55,744 | 10.5% |
| 45 | Environmental Engineering Tech | $29.90 | $26.46 | +13% | $62,192 | 9.3% |
| 46 | Auto Mechanic | $27.20 | $24.29 | +12% | $56,576 | 7.3% |
| 47 | Well Driller | $28.50 | $25.45 | +12% | $59,280 | 6.7% |
| 48 | Construction Manager | $52.10 | $47.36 | +10% | $108,368 | 5.2% |
| 49 | Locksmith | $26.40 | $24.00 | +10% | $54,912 | 5.8% |
| 50 | Septic Tank Servicer | $24.30 | $22.50 | +8% | $50,544 | 4.2% |
Union Premium by Trade Category
Structural
1 trades · Highest: Ironworker (+39%)
Construction
12 trades · Highest: Insulation Worker (+36%)
Heavy Equipment
3 trades · Highest: Pile Driver Operator (+33%)
Plumbing
5 trades · Highest: Fire Sprinkler Fitter (+37%)
Industrial
4 trades · Highest: Boilermaker (+35%)
Electrical
6 trades · Highest: Electrician (+28%)
HVAC
2 trades · Highest: Refrigeration Mechanic (+23%)
Metalwork
4 trades · Highest: Sheet Metal Worker (+36%)
Welding
3 trades · Highest: Structural Welder (+24%)
Specialty
4 trades · Highest: Elevator Mechanic (+38%)
Automotive
3 trades · Highest: Aircraft Mechanic (+17%)
Energy
1 trades · Highest: Wind Turbine Technician (+14%)
Management
2 trades · Highest: Building Inspector (+15%)
Why Union Trades Pay More
Union wage premiums in the skilled trades exist because of collective bargaining — unions negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions on behalf of their members. According to the BLS, the median weekly earnings of full-time union members in construction and extraction occupations were significantly higher than non-union workers in 2024.
The premium is largest in trades with high union density — when most workers in a trade are unionized, employers must match union wages to compete for labor. Trades like Elevator Mechanic (68.2% union density) and Ironworker see consistently strong premiums.
The premium is smallest in trades with low union density (under 10%), like solar installers, auto mechanics, and well drillers. In these fields, individual negotiation and market rates set wages, and union representation is rare.
Beyond Hourly Pay: Total Compensation
The hourly wage premium understates the full gap. Union trade workers typically receive additional benefits that non-union workers do not:
- Health insurance — 94% of union construction workers have employer-provided coverage vs. 66% of non-union
- Pension — Union members are 54% more likely to have a defined-benefit pension plan
- Paid apprenticeship — Union apprentices earn while learning with structured pay progression
- Overtime protections — Union contracts typically enforce overtime pay rules more strictly
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, union trade workers earn 25% more than their non-union counterparts, based on 2024 BLS Current Population Survey data. The premium varies widely by trade — ironworkers see a 39% premium, while some specialty trades see less than 15%.
Ironworkers have the highest union wage premium at 39%, earning $38.90/hour union vs $27.99/hour non-union.
Union density is the percentage of workers in a given trade who are union members. Higher union density generally correlates with stronger wage premiums because unions have more bargaining power when they represent a larger share of the workforce.
Yes. Beyond higher hourly wages, union trade workers typically receive employer-paid health insurance, defined-benefit pensions, annuity contributions, and paid apprenticeship training. BLS data shows union workers are 28% more likely to have employer-provided health coverage and 54% more likely to have a defined-benefit pension.
/methodology