Union members earn more. Here’s why.
Updated July 2026
- Workers who are union members earn $251 more per week than non-members.
- Union members consistently earn higher wages across employment types and ages.
- Higher membership levels increase workers’ power to negotiate better pay.
- Collective bargaining as union members is the most effective way to secure pay rises.
How much more do union members earn?
Workers who are union members earn $251 more per week than workers who are not union members!
According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the median weekly earnings for workers who are union members is $1,600 per week – compared to $1,349 for workers who are not union members.
Data also shows that being a union member leads to higher pay, no matter how you’re employed or how young you are.
The evidence is clear: whichever way you look at it, the key to higher wages is union membership.
Higher wages across employment types
Full-time workers who are members have median hourly earnings is $49.00 – compared to $43.75 for non-members.
Part-time workers who are members have an even bigger edge; with median hourly earnings of $43.33, compared to $32.60 for non-members.
Casual workers who are members have median hourly earnings that are a whopping $11 higher than non-members: $42.86 versus $31.57!
Younger workers benefit from membership
Workers aged 15-24 years old who are members have median hourly earnings of $33.32, ahead of $27.50 for non-members.
Workers aged 25-34 years old who are members see the biggest difference: median hourly earnings of $46.25 versus $38.44 for non-members.
Higher pay isn’t automatic
When you hear that union members earn more than non-members, it doesn’t mean that a union member will earn more than a non-member in the same workplace. Nor does it mean that as soon as you join your union, your pay automatically goes up.
It means that in general, union members have higher wages than non-members, and generally, workplaces or industries with lots of union members, have higher rates of pay, than those with fewer members.
And that’s because when workers come together – unionise – we build collective power. And that’s what drives higher pay.
Union membership = collective power
Pay rises don’t just happen. They’re won.
Collective bargaining is where union members come together to negotiate better pay (and conditions). It ensures workers get a fair deal.
Bargaining is formalised in a written ‘agreement’ – sometimes called an ‘enterprise bargaining agreement’ (EBA) or ‘collective agreement’ (EA).
Non-members might benefit from the agreement too – but the outcome for all the workers would be even bigger if they were also union members.
Plus, the union movement is the biggest reason why the minimum wage, and award wages, increase each year; lifting the floor for all workers.
More members = stronger collective power! It pays to be a union member.
Are you already a union member?
Reach out to your union for more specific information about how you and your workmates can make the most of your rights at work.
Not yet a member?
Joining your union is the most powerful decision you can make to protect your rights at work.