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
Great information! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGlad you can use it
DeleteA fantastic comprehensive list, JES. Thanks for the effort you made. Looks like the Pacific Coast pay the highest wages.
ReplyDeleteYep ... probably because life was tougher out in the "Wilds"
DeleteLooks like stonecutters did all right in the territories. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteSuper information. I notice the "Part 1" ... looking forward to more. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNancy C
Yep ... it's a great book
DeleteI so enjoy this type of information and thank you for sharing. Doris/Angela
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome ... I love this sort of thing too
DeleteHmmm. I'm guessing that fiction writers made about the same then as they do now. :D
ReplyDeleteWhere is the "Like" and "Smiley Face" emotions on Blogger for your comment?
DeleteActually 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...
DeleteWhat 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.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome ... it's interesting comparing the wages like these to some actual costs of goods ... but that's another post!
DeleteWOW, great info for sure. Thanks, Jes!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping this will be as useful for others as it's been for me!
Delete