Comparison of Pay and Unionization in
Renewables and Fossil Fuels
9/16/20
Jobs extracting fossil fuels have been
disappearing for years, because of mechanization and cost reductions in natural
gas and renewables. This page shows the number and pay of various jobs in May
2019.
Some people think people who lose fossil
fuel extraction jobs can move to renewable jobs. They really search for work in
all industries, and compete with workers from all industries applying for jobs
in renewables.
So fossil fuel workers will not
necessarily shift to jobs in renewables. Nevertheless, this page also shows the
number and pay of various jobs in renewables to address the possibility of
shifting from one to the other.
Renewables are less unionized than coal,
maybe more unionized than oil and gas extraction. Pay in the wind industry
seems comparable to the high end of fossil fuel pay, while solar (which
includes mostly residential solar) is comparable to the low end.
In any case people changing to a new
industry usually start low in the pay scale.
UNIONIZATION
·
Wind
and solar are between 4% and 6% unionized.
·
Natural
gas, nuclear and coal power plants
are between 10-12% unionized. Some of these workers shift to other jobs
at the same utilities.
·
Transportation,
distribution and storage jobs, which are largely in fossil fuel sectors, have
among the highest share of union jobs at 17%. These jobs are not
disappearing
·
Data
above come from USEER 2020 U.S. Energy & Employment Report usenergyjobs.org/s/USEER-2020-0615.pdf
and are summarized in axios.com/biden-unions-clean-energy-c11d1d4f-10af-4c94-b0de-ec63cb919ad0.html
·
That
USEER study shows fossil fuel extraction
1% to 3% unionized in 2019, although:
·
EIA
shows coal mining 20% unionized in
2018 in table 20 of eia.gov/coal/annual/
·
BLS
shows 4% unionized in the broad
category of "Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction" in 2019,
4th line of INDUSTRY section on p.7 of bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf
WAGES
· BLS rightly
shows few jobs in biomass and geothermal.
· BLS shows very
few jobs in the solar and wind industries. USEER explains this by finding that
most solar and wind jobs are in companies classed as construction or
manufacturing, not solar or wind (p.41 usenergyjobs.org).
· Limited BLS
solar jobs are heavily weighted to management (see appendix), so the average
$90,000 pay is almost as high as oil+gas extraction, but they show $54,000 for
field jobs, less than most field jobs in fossil fuels.
· Equally limited
BLS data on wind jobs show them comparable to fossil fuel jobs and better than
coal.
· Contractors in
oil and gas fields have the lowest pay and greatest job losses.
The 75th
percentile shows the types of senior jobs being lost, and the 25th
percentile shows the low initial pay which people shifting into these new
industries can expect.
|
Summary: BLS
Data for May 2019 released
3/26/2020 https://bls.gov/oes/special.requests/oesm19in4.zip
|
Number of Workers |
25th Percentile of Pay |
Mean Annual Pay, 2080 Hours |
75th Percentile of Pay |
|
All Occupations Shown below, by Industry |
665,650 |
48,000 |
76,000 |
93,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
50,770 |
46,000 |
61,000 |
73,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
141,320 |
53,000 |
97,000 |
121,000 |
|
Petroleum+Coal Manuf.(Mostly Refineries) |
112,200 |
46,000 |
76,000 |
96,000 |
|
Oil+Gas Field Support Contractors |
349,280 |
37,000 |
59,000 |
66,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
2,980 |
48,000 |
90,000 |
110,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
6,200 |
51,000 |
82,000 |
98,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
1,060 |
56,000 |
77,000 |
95,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
1,840 |
46,000 |
71,000 |
87,000 |
|
First 4 Occupations Shown in Appendix below,
by Industry |
|
|||
|
Coal
Mining |
45,110 |
46,000 |
59,000 |
71,000 |
|
Oil
and Gas Extraction |
47,090 |
45,000 |
65,000 |
79,000 |
|
Petroleum+Coal Manuf.(Mostly Refineries) |
73,500 |
45,000 |
66,000 |
85,000 |
|
Oil+Gas
Field Support Contractors |
263,070 |
36,000 |
50,000 |
59,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
1,060 |
37,000 |
54,000 |
65,000 |
|
Wind
Electric Power Generation |
3,530 |
49,000 |
66,000 |
81,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
750 |
57,000 |
76,000 |
94,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
1,190 |
45,000 |
61,000 |
77,000 |
Two
jobs which BLS has median pay for
are:
$25/hr wind turbine
technicians bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm
$22/hr solar
installers bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/solar-photovoltaic-installers.htm
Brookings analyzed
occupational employment statistics to derive the following wage rates in clean energy. They include several other industries,
such as electric contractors and manufacturers. Brookings shows average pay,
but not number of workers, so it is hard to know how representative they are. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019.04_metro_Clean-Energy-Jobs_Report_Muro-Tomer-Shivaran-Kane_updated.pdf
· $28/hr for clean
energy production
· $26/hr for energy
efficiency
·
$27/hr for environmental management
|
Appendix: BLS
Data for May 2019 released
3/26/2020 https://bls.gov/oes/special.requests/oesm19in4.zip
|
Number of Workers |
25th Percentile of Pay |
Mean Annual Pay, 2080 Hours |
75th Percentile of Pay |
|
All Occupations Shown below, by Industry |
665,650 |
48,000 |
76,000 |
93,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
50,770 |
46,000 |
61,000 |
73,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
141,320 |
53,000 |
97,000 |
121,000 |
|
Petroleum+Coal Manuf.(Mostly Refineries) |
112,200 |
46,000 |
76,000 |
96,000 |
|
Oil+Gas Field Support Contractors |
349,280 |
37,000 |
59,000 |
66,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
2,980 |
48,000 |
90,000 |
110,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
6,200 |
51,000 |
82,000 |
98,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
1,060 |
56,000 |
77,000 |
95,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
1,840 |
46,000 |
71,000 |
87,000 |
|
Next 4 Occupations Shown below, by Industry |
|
|||
|
Coal
Mining |
45,110 |
46,000 |
59,000 |
71,000 |
|
Oil
and Gas Extraction |
47,090 |
45,000 |
65,000 |
79,000 |
|
Petroleum+Coal Manuf.(Mostly Refineries) |
73,500 |
45,000 |
66,000 |
85,000 |
|
Oil+Gas
Field Support Contractors |
263,070 |
36,000 |
50,000 |
59,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
1,060 |
37,000 |
54,000 |
65,000 |
|
Wind
Electric Power Generation |
3,530 |
49,000 |
66,000 |
81,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
750 |
57,000 |
76,000 |
94,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
1,190 |
45,000 |
61,000 |
77,000 |
|
Construction and Extraction Occupations |
233,190 |
40,000 |
56,000 |
68,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
30,170 |
46,000 |
59,000 |
71,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
20,540 |
42,000 |
65,000 |
79,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
8,440 |
38,000 |
61,000 |
84,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
172,500 |
36,000 |
50,000 |
59,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
770 |
34,000 |
51,000 |
62,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
650 |
41,000 |
57,000 |
73,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
60 |
57,000 |
70,000 |
78,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
60 |
29,000 |
34,000 |
38,000 |
|
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Occupations |
54,830 |
48,000 |
65,000 |
80,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
8,130 |
48,000 |
62,000 |
74,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
5,580 |
47,000 |
66,000 |
82,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
9,920 |
47,000 |
70,000 |
91,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
27,760 |
39,000 |
54,000 |
64,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
220 |
41,000 |
58,000 |
72,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
2,560 |
48,000 |
64,000 |
78,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
270 |
59,000 |
74,000 |
92,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
390 |
51,000 |
68,000 |
88,000 |
|
Production Occupations |
77,760 |
52,000 |
70,000 |
85,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
2,080 |
41,000 |
57,000 |
74,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
9,000 |
55,000 |
72,000 |
85,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
46,420 |
48,000 |
70,000 |
90,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
18,800 |
36,000 |
53,000 |
64,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
70 |
58,000 |
72,000 |
81,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
320 |
80,000 |
94,000 |
114,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
420 |
56,000 |
77,000 |
98,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
650 |
45,000 |
62,000 |
76,000 |
|
Transportation and Material Moving
Occupations |
69,520 |
35,000 |
49,000 |
59,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
4,730 |
40,000 |
56,000 |
67,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
11,970 |
41,000 |
59,000 |
73,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
8,720 |
32,000 |
46,000 |
54,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
44,010 |
36,000 |
47,000 |
54,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
0 |
31,000 |
43,000 |
50,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
90 |
32,000 |
43,000 |
58,000 |
|
Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
43,170 |
70,000 |
99,000 |
120,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
1,190 |
63,000 |
83,000 |
100,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
18,480 |
87,000 |
135,000 |
166,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
10,250 |
81,000 |
112,000 |
135,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
12,090 |
62,000 |
105,000 |
128,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
310 |
68,000 |
99,000 |
120,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
460 |
74,000 |
100,000 |
123,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
90 |
63,000 |
79,000 |
97,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
300 |
59,000 |
76,000 |
94,000 |
|
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and
Media Occupations |
610 |
51,000 |
72,000 |
87,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
260 |
55,000 |
80,000 |
95,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
200 |
45,000 |
67,000 |
83,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
150 |
52,000 |
69,000 |
82,000 |
|
Building and Grounds Cleaning and
Maintenance Occupations |
950 |
23,000 |
33,000 |
40,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
130 |
25,000 |
39,000 |
52,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
260 |
20,000 |
29,000 |
36,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
200 |
25,000 |
35,000 |
40,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
360 |
21,000 |
29,000 |
33,000 |
|
Business and Financial Operations
Occupations |
38,100 |
59,000 |
84,000 |
102,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
680 |
49,000 |
72,000 |
91,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
19,330 |
63,000 |
93,000 |
112,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
6,060 |
58,000 |
86,000 |
106,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
10,830 |
55,000 |
81,000 |
99,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
490 |
59,000 |
87,000 |
106,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
670 |
67,000 |
89,000 |
101,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
40 |
59,000 |
84,000 |
100,000 |
|
Computer and Mathematical Occupations |
13,700 |
66,000 |
93,000 |
116,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
70 |
56,000 |
73,000 |
91,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
10,310 |
79,000 |
119,000 |
143,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
1,330 |
62,000 |
91,000 |
115,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
1,810 |
57,000 |
87,000 |
111,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
70 |
79,000 |
99,000 |
119,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
110 |
63,000 |
90,000 |
114,000 |
|
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations |
70 |
26,000 |
40,000 |
50,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
70 |
26,000 |
40,000 |
50,000 |
|
Food Preparation and Serving Related
Occupations |
160 |
23,000 |
32,000 |
35,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
60 |
24,000 |
32,000 |
37,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
100 |
22,000 |
32,000 |
34,000 |
|
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Occupations |
170 |
50,000 |
74,000 |
86,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
40 |
66,000 |
104,000 |
122,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
90 |
46,000 |
69,000 |
87,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
40 |
38,000 |
47,000 |
51,000 |
|
Legal Occupations |
3,770 |
58,000 |
115,000 |
147,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
40 |
33,000 |
66,000 |
75,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
2,620 |
50,000 |
100,000 |
119,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
90 |
65,000 |
142,000 |
198,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
850 |
53,000 |
97,000 |
103,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
50 |
73,000 |
137,000 |
183,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
120 |
74,000 |
147,000 |
203,000 |
|
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Occupations |
23,180 |
58,000 |
84,000 |
104,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
490 |
52,000 |
72,000 |
90,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
8,960 |
68,000 |
120,000 |
152,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
4,560 |
56,000 |
79,000 |
98,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
9,010 |
40,000 |
71,000 |
91,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
80 |
66,000 |
87,000 |
100,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
40 |
56,000 |
75,000 |
88,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
40 |
68,000 |
85,000 |
107,000 |
|
Management Occupations |
44,730 |
93,000 |
141,000 |
169,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
1,610 |
81,000 |
118,000 |
145,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
16,360 |
99,000 |
164,000 |
>208,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
7,210 |
95,000 |
141,000 |
169,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
18,050 |
85,000 |
134,000 |
164,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
600 |
100,000 |
159,000 |
200,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
660 |
99,000 |
151,000 |
183,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
70 |
100,000 |
123,000 |
150,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
170 |
84,000 |
137,000 |
173,000 |
|
Office and Administrative Support
Occupations |
46,920 |
35,000 |
48,000 |
58,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
1,230 |
29,000 |
41,000 |
50,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
14,300 |
32,000 |
48,000 |
59,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
6,480 |
34,000 |
48,000 |
58,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
24,140 |
32,000 |
44,000 |
52,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
150 |
42,000 |
53,000 |
65,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
490 |
38,000 |
53,000 |
63,000 |
|
Geothermal Electric Power Generation |
40 |
45,000 |
56,000 |
67,000 |
|
Biomass Electric Power Generation |
90 |
31,000 |
43,000 |
52,000 |
|
Protective Service Occupations |
810 |
26,000 |
44,000 |
59,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
140 |
23,000 |
38,000 |
54,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
240 |
28,000 |
42,000 |
52,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
170 |
30,000 |
59,000 |
89,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
260 |
22,000 |
37,000 |
41,000 |
|
Sales and Related Occupations |
13,740 |
60,000 |
95,000 |
116,000 |
|
Coal Mining |
60 |
56,000 |
92,000 |
105,000 |
|
Oil and Gas Extraction |
2,980 |
63,000 |
101,000 |
128,000 |
|
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing |
2,050 |
54,000 |
88,000 |
105,000 |
|
Support Activities for Mining |
8,440 |
53,000 |
86,000 |
107,000 |
|
Solar Electric Power Generation |
170 |
46,000 |
84,000 |
107,000 |
|
Wind Electric Power Generation |
40 |
88,000 |
117,000 |
145,000 |