Prices and Wages by Decade: 1890-1899

Wages for occupations in specific American cities, mostly in the states of MA, GA, PA, NY, NC, SC, IL, OH, NJ. Shows wage high, low and average. Table spans pages 766-812 in this source.

Lists daily wages in dollars for many occupations including blacksmiths, bricklayers, cabinet makers, carpenters, railroad conductors, railroad engineers, street laborers, machinists, house painters, stone masons, teamsters, plumbers, and more, in the U.S. cities of Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Richmond, St. Louis, St. Paul and San Francisco. The last column provides an average across all of these cities. Wage data tables for cities in Great Britain, France and Belgium begin on page 683. Source: Bulletin of the United States Department of Labor, no. 18, published September 1898.

Extensive tables show average wages paid each year for a variety of occupations, reported by state and sometimes by city, often broken out by sex, in the following industries:

• Bakers, 1880-1900
• Building trades, 1840-1900
  Listed wages for bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, stationary engineers, stationary firemen, hod carriers, building laborers, marble cutters, stone masons, painters, plasterers, plumbers, stone cutters, granite cutters and tile layers.
• Clothing manufacture, 1851-1898
  Listed wages for dressmakers and sewing machine operators
• Farm labor, 1841-1899
  For further time series data, see USDA data showing farm labor wages from 1866-1920.
• Glass and clay products, 1841-1898
  Listed wages for glass blowers, potters, kiln placers and turners.
• Iron and steel workers, 1840-1899
  Listed wages for furnace keepers for pig-iron blast furnaces and other jobs in iron and steel.
• Laborers, 1840-1900
• Leather products, 1855-1900
  Listed wages for shoemakers, leather cutters, stitchers, vampers, lasters and tanners.
  
• Metal trades other than iron or steel, 1840-1900
  Listed wages for blacksmiths in railroad shops, machine shops and other places, boiler makers in foundries and machine shops, core makers, horseshoers, foundry laborers, lathe hands, machinists, millwrights in flour mills and other places, iron molders, pattern makers, tool and die makers.
• Mining -- Coal mine and iron mine industries, 1840-1900
  Wages for coal mine drivers, loaders, coal miners, iron miners, drilling machine operators, timbermen for the mines
• Printing and publishing, 1842-1900
  Wages for bookbinders, press feeders, proof readers, compositors for newspapers and other shops, pressmen (operators of the printing press), stereotypers
• Textiles - Cloth manufacture, 1842-1900
  Wages for doffers, drawing frame tenders, cotton dyers, loom fixers, cotton spinners, cotton weavers
• Textiles - Hosiery and underwear manufacture, 1842-1900
  Wages for knitters of hosiery and underwear, weavers and winders of silk goods, dressers and dyers of woolen and worsted goods, loom fixers, spinners, wool sorters
• Tobacco product manufacture, 1860-1900
  Wages for cigar makers, tobacco stemmers and strippers
• Transportation industry wages, 1840-1900
  Wages for railroad brakemen, conductors for passenger railroads, conductors for freight railroads, locomotive engineers and firemen, longshoremen, 1-horse teamsters, 2-horse teamsters and teamsters non-specified.
• Woodworking trades, 1845-1900
  Wages for cabinet makers, coopers, sawyers, loggers, lumber laborers, woodworkers

This source lists the occupation and average weekly earnings for several thousand sampled individuals mostly from Atlanta, Nashville and Cambridge, Massachusetts but also from some other cities. Note that this source lists the earnings of each individual and does not provide occupational averages. Some occupations include clergyman, teacher, seamstress, washerwoman, barber, shoemaker, tinsmith, nurse, well digger, coachman, waiter, railroad porter and more. Source: U.S. Dept of Labor Bulletin #10, Condition of the Negro in Various Cities.

The book The Negro Wage Earner is not a government document but it cites government wage data. Use the table of contents to find the chapter on the type of job, then use the "Jump to..." box to quickly land on that page in the volume.

Reports monthly wages paid in January and July of each year to individual, unnamed male and female employees in a variety of jobs at selected establishments in the northeast U.S. This advantage of the source is that it tracks how much individual businesses paid for specific jobs over several decades, and it shows pay for male and female employees, sometimes for the same job title (see example). Pay for apprentices or "learners" are listed separately from more experienced staff. Industries covered: agricultural implement manufacture (MA), ale, beer and porter (NY), book and newspaper publishers (CT, NY, MD), building trades (CT, MD, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI), railroad car and ship building (DE), wagon and carriage manufacture (NY), city public works (MA, NY, PA) and cotton milling (MA). Source: 1893 report of the U.S. Congressional Committee on Finance titled "Wholesale prices, wages and transportation."

Provides tables that compare wage rates in U.S., Great Britain, Germany, France and Belgium for specific occupations, including blacksmith, boiler makers, bricklayers, carpenters, compositors, hod carriers, iron molders, general laborers, machinists, house painters, plumbers, stone cutters, and stone masons. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 53, Volume IX, published July 1904.

Wages for all the typical building trades are represented (carpenter, stone mason, bricklayer, electrical inspectors) as well as street cleaners, ticket agents, gardeners, and other jobs working for city governments. U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 7, Vol. I, published November 1896.

Shows average weekly earnings. Although this is not a government source, it cites government data.

Historical chart shows salaries of members of the U.S. Congress, along with dates of enactment and statutory authority for each pay increase.

Lists average monthly earnings with board, by geographic divisions. Data for years: 1818, 1826, 1830, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1909, 1919, 1929, 1940, 1948.

Include wage rates for all states and the US as a whole. Also included are some rates from prior to 1866. In some state descriptions farm labor wages are given in relation to the cost of slaves doing the work instead. Source: Bulletin / U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Statistics, no. 99 issued Nov 7, 1912.

In one simple table, this source shows the national average for daily and monthly wages of hired farm labor, with board or without, at harvest or at other times. Data available for years 1866, 1869, 1875, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1890, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1898, 1899, 1902, and each year from 1910-1922.

These workers engaged in spinning, weaving, printing, dyeing and otherwise performing tasks for the manufacture of fabrics. Shows hourly wages and typical hours per week.

Wages and hours of labor in lumber manufacturing for the years 1907 to 1912, including information from 1890 to 1912. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 129.

Source: Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, no. 59, Volume XI. Published July 1905.

Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, No. 65, Volume XIII. Published July 1906.

Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, No. 71, Volume XV. Published July 1907.

Bulletin of the U. S. Bureau of Labor, No. 77, Volume XVII. Published July 1908.

For each year from 1896-1907, this source lists average daily compensation in dollars for station agents, conductors, telegraph operators, enginemen, firemen, track men, switch tenders, crossing tenders, machinists, carpenters and more.

Shows wages per hour and hours of work per week for the years 1907 to 1912, with breakouts by state. Includes a comparison from 1890 to 1912. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 137

This is an index to topics covered in all labor statistics bureaus, both state and federal and even some foreign countries. There are ten pages of entries under "Wages" listing wages shown in state and federal reports. Find report abbreviations spelled out here. The strategy for using this source is to identify a report you want to track down and then look for it in Hathi Trust's online digital library. Contact us if you would like assistance with this.

Report shows average wages in Missouri for a number of typical occupations in the building trades, manufacturing, baking, barbershop work, brewing, etc., and also provides cost of living data. Scroll forward in the source to see extensive tables and further occupations such as jobs with railroads. Source: Missouri Bureau of Labor Statistics biennial report, 1899.

The 7th Biennial Report of Colorado's Bureau of Labor Statistics shows average weekly wages for a number of occupations, including...
Barbers
Blacksmiths, Bookkeepers
Bricklayers, Cooks
Clerks and Salesmen
Coal Miners
Cigar makers, Carpenters
Drug clerks and Pharmacists
Engineers, stationary and locomotive
Farmers, Roofers, Cement workers, and Laborers
Lawyers, Metalliferous miners
Machinists
Printers, Painters and Paper Hangers
Physicians, Pumpmen in mines
Plumbers, Railroad Conductors
Railroad firemen
Stenographers, Typewriters and Smeltermen
Stone Cutters and Stone Masons
School teachers and Telegraph Operators
Waiters

See table at bottom of page, "Schedule of wages in leading occupations of female wage-earners in Colorado." Occupations include milliners, dressmakers, chambermaids, domestics, factory girls, sales women, confectionery workers, etc. Taken from Colorado State Bureau of Labor Statistics volume 3 (1891-1892)

Bibliography of Illinois state government publications tell which reports show wages for various occupations: farm labor, mill workers, factory workers, teachers, miners, railroad workers, and more. Contact us if you need assistance tracking down any of the listings in the bibliography, concannonm@missouri.edu.

Tables show annual earnings of Iowans working in various occupations, with breakouts by sex. Note that by paging backward from any of these tables, one can find additional detail such as average hours worked per day and average number of weeks worked per year. Jump directly to counties:

• Clinton County
• Des Moines County
• Dubuque County
• Harrison County
• Lee County
• Linn County
• Marshall County
• Muscatine County
• Polk County -- note, this table extends to page 153
• Scott County
• Webster County
• Woodbury County

This series of Municipal Year Books from New Haven, Connecticut, show salaries for police, firemen, school teachers, principals, building inspectors, clerks and other jobs working for city government.

This lake is in the New York/Vermont area. Lists wages for captains, seamen, first mates, second mates, engineers, chambermaids, deck hands, lookouts, watchmen, wheelmen, cooks, firemen, stewards, and boy helpers.

Wisconsin's 7th Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics included a lengthy section showing wages earned by people in a variety of occupations. These were not averages but lists of individuals along with how much each made as well as each individual's housing, fuel and clothing/dry goods expenses.

The 1st Biennial Report of Washington state's Bureau of Labor shows wages for many occupations based on ships, including deck hands, mates, boatswains, watchmen, engineers, coal passers, stewards, cooks and "flunkies."

Brief 30-page booklet reviews overall wage trends from 1800-1899. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff Paper #2.

Provides explanations and charts to help users calculate the current value of historic dollar amounts. Source: Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Association, Vol. 101 #2. Source

Detailed tables are listed by type of food and then by state. Average retail prices are reported for each year from 1890-1903. Scroll forward through the pages to see all the food types.

The grocery section of Sears' catalog shows items available for mail order, along with prices. Section extends from page 9-18.

Appendixes B and C on pages 28-30 list food prices compared with nutritive value. Dept of Agriculture Farmer's Bulletin 23.

This one-page table shows the average retail prices for bread, milk, eggs, meats, fruits, vegetables, coffee, beans, sugar, margarine, etc. each year from 1890-1970. Data collection took place in about 30-60 U.S. cities. Jump to page 193 of this resource for an excellent explanation of the historical table and the methodology of data collection.

Tells how much families were spending on food in general but does not tell the actual prices of foods. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 71, pages 175-328.

Site has scanned menus from restaurants operating during the 1890s. This is not a government resource and does not show average restaurant prices, still, it can be useful for spot-checking the prices for various foods and drinks at restaurants different places. TIP: look for menus associated with hotels as they are more likely to show prices. Banquet events typically do not show prices.

Numerous publications in the Bulletin series of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Publication dates start in 1915 but actual data extends to the 1890s.

Shows prices of carriages, buggies, surreys, farm implements such as plows and cultivators, carts, engines, tools, equipment and supplies for 1860, 1880, 1890, 1895 and 1900. Provides breakdowns by item category and type. Tables extend from page 14-28 in this source.

Shows over 1,100 pages of items available through mail order from Sears, including groceries, home furnishings, drugs and medicines, veterinary supplies and more. See the Index for complete list.

Heavily illustrated catalog gives mail order prices for women's clothing and small household items.

Illustrated catalog for a mail order business showing prices for jewelry, pocket watches, clocks, belt buckles, personal effects such as eyeglasses, umbrellas, cans, fountain pens, silver tea sets, and more. Check front matter to determine postage costs which was determined by weight of item(s) purchased. See also the 1896 edition.

"Descriptive catalogue and price-list of sportsmen's supplies" shows prices for guns, outdoor clothing and gear along with drawings of the products.

Mail order catalog intended for direct retail sales to the general public. Retail prices and postage costs are listed for each item. Most of the catalog focuses on "fun things," toys and novelties. Includes bicycles and parts, jewelry, watches, cameras, cutlery, musical instruments and more.

This reference source lists commercial trade catalogs published in the 18th and 19th centuries. Use it to determine what catalog(s) might have existed for the time period you need, then try finding the catalog in full text online in Hathi Trust.

Table shows average amount spent by families for rent, fuel and lighting, broken out by the industry where wage earners were employed. Compares U.S. rents to that paid by families working in similar industries in Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland. Another table in the same source shows average expenditure on rent by family income.

Study found average rents being paid by African Americans in Nashville TN, Atlanta GA and Cambridge MA in mid 1890s. Taken from the section "Condition of the Negro in Various Cities" in Work and Wages of Men, Women, and Children published by the U.S. Department of Labor in 1897.

Source: chapter titled "Economic and ethical aspects" in the U.S. Dept of Labor report, The Housing of the working people.

Table shows the average rent paid by people in various occupations, and the average number of rooms. Also shows the average wage earned by people in the occupations. Jump directly to counties:

• Clinton County
• Des Moines County
• Dubuque County
• Harrison County
• Lee County
• Linn County
• Marshall County
• Muscatine County
• Polk County -- note, this table extends to page 153
• Scott County
• Webster County
• Woodbury County

Article in Mechanical News: An Illustrated Journal shows a drawing of a 3- bedroom home along with estimates for cost to build ($2000-$3000). Floor plans are also shown. This is not a government document.

Average prices for improved and unimproved lands in Maryland, by region and county, on discussed on pages 21-33. Source: Maryland as it is.... Published by order of the Board of Public Works, 1902.

Quinine was used as a treatment for malaria. This source shows price data for individual stores in U.S. cities, but the data is not averaged.

This source shows price data for individual stores in U.S. cities, but the data is not averaged. The table spans two pages; see row labels on every other page.

Prices for remedies, health supplies, etc. listed on pages 27-47 of this mail order catalog.

Julius Cahn's official theatrical guide was a directory of all major theaters and opera houses in the U.S. It lists the range of ticket prices for each theater and shows rates for nearby hotels as well.

In an article comparing the operating cost of new electric vehicles to hauling by horse-drawn wagon, a table shows breakouts for all costs relating to the latter, including stable rental, cost of horse feed for one day, cost to shoe the horses, cost to hire a driver and his boy helper, interest on the cost of wagon, harness, etc.

Chart shows postal rates for mailing a domestic letter. Source: the Historian of the U.S. Postal Service.

Look up by year, then state, then city, then title to find the cost of a newspaper subscription. Source: Rowell's & Ayer's American newspaper directories.

Article in the December 20, 1902 issue of American Telephone Journal (not a government document) recounts the earliest rates for long distance service. Note: inter-urban telephone service was very limited in these early years.

This travelers' guide shows railroad fares between towns on maps of each state. Hotel rates are listed alphabetically by state, then city. The Table of Contents provides page numbers for easy use.

The January 1900 issue of Hotel Monthly lists hotels alphabetically by state and then by city, with rates. The listing for Canada immediately follows the U.S. listings. There is also a January 1898 issue that covers 1897 rates. This is not a government document.

Railway ticket prices were calculated on a formula of cents per mile, and from the time period 1894 until World War I they remained fairly constant at 2 cents per mile. See railroad passenger fare overview from 1890s-early 1930s in the section titled "Carrier Price," in the U.S. document "Passenger Traffic Report" on pages 38-39.

Average railroad passenger fare (ticket price) expressed in cents per mile.

Source passenger fares expressed in cents per mile. The tables extend from pages 65-77. See title page of this source.

Congressional hearing dated 1901 gives the history of early state railroad charters with regard to how rates were set for passenger and freight, and how such rates were to be publicized. See also section titled Passenger Traffic...Passenger Fares which discusses differences in rates around the country and compares to passenger train fare in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and India for 1897-1898. Source: Report of the Industrial commission on transportation.

USDA statistical publication shows interstate railroad passenger fares for various destinations leaving from New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore. See title page of this source.

Gasoline retailed at 12.5 to 15 cents per gallon according to this trade publication. Although few had gas-powered automobiles in 1896, gasoline was used to fuel some stoves. "A gasoline stove will do all the cooking for a family of live by using an average of five gallons of gasoline a week, making the cost at present prices from $2.50 to $3.00 per month" according to the Stoves and Hardware Reporter March 19, 1896 edition, p. 12, column 1.

Tank wagons generally sold gasoline to dealers or customers who had the means to store large quantities. Those who bought gasoline in barrels generally paid more. In response to federal investigators, Standard Oil reported tank wagon gasoline prices at 6 to 10 cents per gallon in Ohio and Michigan in 1896. See context of this price investigation.

In the July 19, 1899 issue of Horseless Age there is an ad for the Locomobile Company of America. The tenth in a list of points reads "The fuel is available in almost any town at 7 cents a gallon." Further, in congressional testimony dated 1900, one witness reported that gasoline cost "7 or 9 cents a gallon."

Tables show retail prices and relative prices (price indexes). There are also tables showing consumer expenditures and some family budgets. Comparisons with prices and wages in England are shown as well. Source: U.S. Congressional Serial Set vol. 2916.

Part 2 contains tables relating to clothing, fuel, and metals. Tables are also broken down by state in some sections. Source: U.S. Congressional Serial Set vol. 2917.

Part 3 shows price data on lumber and building materials, drugs and chemicals, house furnishings, prices in England, and farm products. Tables are also broken down by state in some sections. Source: U.S. Congressional Serial Set vol. 2917.

Focuses on family consumer expenditures. Includes breakouts by the occupational industry of wage earners, place of residence, family ancestral background, children’s ages and genders, and other categories. See for example the average amount spent on clothing, amusements and vacations and alcohol, tobacco, food, charitable donations, religious contributions, and books/newspapers. This was published as Part 3 of the U.S. Commissioner of Labor's annual report. Source: U.S. Congressional Serial Set vol. 2958-2 (1891/92).

Shows no actual retail prices. It does show price increases and decreases over time. Also shows how much families were spending on certain things over the course of a year. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 54 (1904)

Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 87, Volume XX. Published March 1910.

See table of contents in this Emigrant's Guide for entries under wages, prices, cost of living, rents, etc. Published in 1896.

Shows average annual consumption per person by country for intoxicating spirits, beer and wine, as well as grains, potatoes, coffee, tea and sugar. Gives data for Great Britain, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Balkan states, and more. Note: This source does not provide retail prices.