Friday, March 11, 2016

Cost of Living in the Old West, Part 1

I've recently discovered a couple of fascinating texts about life in the late 1800s, and thought I'd share some of the facts with my fellow authors. First, let's talk wages. Labor in Europe and America, by E. Young, not only surveyed a huge variety of workers, but lists the average wage for each job by state for 1860, 1870 and 1874.

For this time period, here's the breakdown of states. New England and the Middle Atlantic states were what we think of today. However, at that time, the Western states consisted of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Kentucky. The Southern states were Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. Pacific states included California, Nevada and Oregon, while the Territories were Washington, Colorado, Dakota, Idaho, Arizona, Montana and New Mexico.



Here are some average daily wages you can use in your books:

Farm Labor:
Experienced Hands in Summer
            New England: $0.75-1.75 with board, $1.00-2.25 without
            Middle Atlantic: $0.38-1.63 with board, $0.63-2.14 without
            Western: $0.77-1.63 with board, $1.08-2.50 without
            Southern: $0.53-1.07 with board, $0.63-1.54 without
            Pacific: $1.00-3.50 with board, $1.60-5.60 without
            Territories: $0.75-5.00 with board, $1.13-6.00 without
Experienced Hands in Winter:
            New England: $0.42-1.25 with board, $0.75-1.75 without
            Middle Atlantic: $0.25-1.00 with board, $0.50-1.50 without
            Western: $0.60-1.17 with board, $0.92-1.75 without
            Southern: $0.36-1.00 with board, $0.52-1.34 without
            Pacific: $1.00-3.50 with board, $1.69-5.00 without
            Territories: $0.50-3.00 with board, $1.00-4.00 without
Ordinary Hands in Summer:
            New England: $50-1.58 with board, $0.83-2.08 without
            Middle Atlantic: $0.38-1.23 with board, $0.62-1.72 without
            Western: $0.64-1.39 with board, $0.90-1.88 without
            Southern: $0.33-0.84 with board, $0.47-1.50 without
            Pacific: $1.00-3.00 with board, $1.60-4.00 without
            Territories: $0.60-4.00 with board, $1.00-5.00 without
Ordinary Hands in Winter:
            New England: $0.40-1.17 with board, $0.67-1.50 without
            Middle Atlantic: $0.25-0.90 with board, $0.50-1.37 without
            Western: $0.55-1.03 with board, $0.75-1.49 without
            Southern: $0.28-0.75 with board, $0.40-1.00 without
            Pacific: $0.75-3.00 with board, $1.43-4.00 without
            Territories: $0.50-2.50 with board, $1.00-3.25 without



Common Laborers (non farm-work):
            New England: $0.50-1.67 with board, $0.83-2.17 without
            Middle Atlantic: $0.38-1.38 with board, $0.50-1.67 without
            Western: $0.72-1.50 with board, $0.99-2.13 without
            Southern: $0.44-1.25 with board, $0.67-1.70 without
            Pacific: $1.66-3.50 with board, $1.96-4.23 without
            Territories: $0.50-5.00 with board, $1.00-6.00 without
Female Servants (with board):
            New England: $0.25-0.50
            Middle Atlantic: $0.24-0.75
            Western: $0.26-0.60
            Southern: $0.16-0.50
            Pacific: $1.00-4.00
            Territories: $0.25-2.75


Mechanical Labor:



Blacksmiths:
            New England: $1.50-3.44
            Middle Atlantic:  $1.47-3.00
            Western: $1.75-3.50
            Southern: $1.40-4.00
            Pacific: $3.00-6.80
            Territories: $2.25-8.50
Bricklayers or Masons:
            New England: $1.75-3.90
            Middle Atlantic: $1.56-4.00
            Western: $2.18-4.25
            Southern: $1.71-4.50
            Pacific: $4.61-6.80
            Territories: $3.00-9.00
Cabinet Makers:
            New England: $1.63-3.25
            Middle Atlantic: $1.32-3.00
            Western: $1.84-3.18
            Southern: $1.50-3.25
            Pacific: $3.75-6.88
            Territories: $2.50-7.00
Coopers:        
            New England: $1.59-3.19
            Middle Atlantic: $1.31-3.00
            Western: $1.58-3.62
            Southern: $1.00-3.58
            Pacific: $3.63-5.84
            Territories: $3.00-6.00
Carpenters:
            New England: $1.50-3.25
            Middle Atlantic: $1.50-2.75
            Western: $1.78-3.88
            Southern: $1.50-3.75
            Pacific: $3.95-6.00
            Territories: $3.00-7.50
Painters:
            New England: $1.50-3.00
            Middle Atlantic: $1.50-3.01
            Western: $1.93-4.00
            Southern: $1.50-3.11
            Pacific: $4.06-7.80
            Territories: $2.50-7.50
Plasterers:
            New England: $1.75-3.69
            Middle Atlantic: $1.76-3.75
            Western: $2.08-4.13
            Southern: $1.67-4.11
            Pacific: $4.75-7.80
            Territories: $3.00-11.00



Shoemakers:
            New England: $1.37-2.69
            Middle Atlantic: $1.35-2.62
            Western: $1.54-3.00
            Southern: $1.06-3.00
            Pacific: $3.82-5.88
            Territories: $3.25-7.00
Stone Cutters:
            New England: $2.00-4.05
            Middle Atlantic: $1.50-4.50
            Western: $2.25-4.00
            Southern: $1.50-5.00
            Pacific: $4.68-7.00
            Territories: $4.00-11.00
Tailors:
            New England: $1.37-3.75
            Middle Atlantic: $1.34-2.72
            Western: $1.59-2.95
            Southern: $1.25-3.50
            Pacific: $3.00-6.00
            Territories: $3.00-8.00
Tanners:
            New England: $1.50-3.25
            Middle Atlantic: $1.40-2.74
            Western: $1.61-2.88
            Southern: $1.17-3.25
            Pacific: $3.31-5.60
            Territories: $3.00-8.00
Tinsmiths:
            New England: $1.50-3.19
            Middle Atlantic: $1.33-2.78
            Western: $1.54-2.81
            Southern: $1.65-4.00
            Pacific: $3.00-6.00
            Territories: $2.50-7.50



Wheelwrights:
            New England: $1.50-3.12
            Middle Atlantic: $1.35-2.95
            Western: $1.78-3.88
            Southern: $1.58-3.61
            Pacific: $4.00-8.75
            Territories: $3.00-8.00


J.E.S. Hays
www.jeshays.com
www.facebook.com/JESHaysBooks


For more details, and other types of work, visit https://archive.org/stream/laborineuropeame00younuoft#page/754/mode/2up

17 comments:

  1. A fantastic comprehensive list, JES. Thanks for the effort you made. Looks like the Pacific Coast pay the highest wages.

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    1. Yep ... probably because life was tougher out in the "Wilds"

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  2. Looks like stonecutters did all right in the territories. Thanks for the info.

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  3. Super information. I notice the "Part 1" ... looking forward to more. Thank you!

    Nancy C

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  4. I so enjoy this type of information and thank you for sharing. Doris/Angela

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    1. You're welcome ... I love this sort of thing too

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  5. Hmmm. I'm guessing that fiction writers made about the same then as they do now. :D

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    1. Where is the "Like" and "Smiley Face" emotions on Blogger for your comment?

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    2. Actually they probably made a bit more, considering how many people are able to publish books nowadays. Back then, it was quite the ordeal to print out a book...

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  6. What a great blog post with a lot of helpful information. Most of pretty much know the cost of living has mushroomed--even during our lifetimes--but how much is the question with trying to put a value on things back in the day. Thank you for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome ... it's interesting comparing the wages like these to some actual costs of goods ... but that's another post!

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  7. WOW, great info for sure. Thanks, Jes!

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    1. I'm hoping this will be as useful for others as it's been for me!

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