Overall, production workers in the utilities industry had average weekly earnings of $978 in 2002. Earnings varied by industry segment within utilities. Average weekly earnings for production workers were highest in natural gas distribution ($1,009) and electric power generation, transmission, and distribution ($1,000); and lowest in water, sewage, and other systems ($689).
Earnings in utilities were generally higher than earnings in other industries. The hourly earnings for production workers in utilities averaged $23.94 in 2002, compared with $14.95 in all private industry. This was due in part to more overtime and weekend work-as utility plant operations must be monitored 24 hours a day-which commands higher hourly rates.
In 2002, almost a third of workers in utilities were union members or covered by union contracts, more than double the proportion for all industries.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2014-2024 Edition
Interesting Fact
The word "salary" comes from salarium, or "salt money" and was used in ancient Rome to describe the wages paid to Roman legionnaires who were compensated in salt.