PMA members employ more than 16,400 registered longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports from San Diego to Bellingham. Learn more about our coastwide numbers, including workforce and volumes, and leading West Coast ports.
Coastwide Numbers
World-Class Benefits and Wages for ILWU members
PMA provides world-class wages and benefits to ILWU workers. Currently, registered longshore workers earn nearly $233,000 a year on average – roughly three times the U.S. median household income.
Average Annual Earnings
This graph shows average compensation for full-time workers in each of the three major job categories.
Benefits Costs — Per Registrant
Based on the number of active registrants, this graph looks at the employers’ cost of benefits on a per-worker basis.
Registered Work Force
Job growth has been robust on the waterfront in recent years.
Total Wages Paid
This total reflects wages paid to longshore workers, clerks and foreman at all West Coast ports — surpassing $2 billion per year.
New Safety Records Amid a Rebound in Volumes
The Coastwide Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR) fell to yet another low in 2021. This achievement amid record volumes reflects the professionalism, collaboration, and commitment to safety by PMA and the ILWU.
Lost Time Injury Rate Compared to Man-Hours
Lost Time Injury Rates have steadily improved during the past 20 years.
Container TEUs — Loaded
Container traffic accounts for roughly three-quarters of all West Coast cargo movement. This chart shows growth over time.
Total Revenue Tonnage
This graph shows the overall rise in cargo movement during the past 20 years, and includes all cargo types.
Container TEUs — Total
This graph is similar to the loaded container total, but also includes those containers without cargo.
Ports by Region
PACIFIC NORTHWEST:
WASHINGTON
Region Statistics
TEUs per year:
1,958,132
Total Tonnage (tons):
43,038,940
% of Coast Tonnage:
13.4%
Registered workers:
2,422
Total Wages Paid:
$321,645,000
Port Locations
PACIFIC NORTHWEST:
OREGON & COLUMBIA RIVER
Region Statistics
TEUs per year:
96,153
Total Tonnage (tons):
25,607,386
% of Coast Tonnage:
8.0%
Registered workers:
1,046
Total Wages Paid:
$127,762,000
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Region Statistics
TEUs per year:
1,576,094
Total Tonnage (tons):
37,917,767
% of Coast Tonnage:
11.8%
Registered workers:
2,148
Total Wages Paid:
$246,811,000
Port Locations
Port Chicago
Crockett
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Region Statistics
TEUs per year:
11,059,064
Total Tonnage (tons):
215,211,074
% of Coast Tonnage:
66.8%
Registered workers:
10,786
Total Wages Paid:
$1,499,571,000
The Workforce
The Longshore Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) represents waterfront employees on the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska. Nearly more than 16,400 registered ILWU workers are employed at West Coast ports.
Longshore workers handle the loading and unloading of ships and barges, stuff and unstuff certain containers, handle lines, maintain stevedoring gear and perform many other activities. The Clerks process the cargo information for delivery and shipment. Walking bosses or Foremen are in charge of the loading and unloading operation and reporting to the stevedoring company superintendent.
PMA and the ILWU collaborate on both coast-wide and local safety initiatives.
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