Prices and Wages by Decade: 1950-1959

Links to government documents and primary sources listing retail prices for products and services, as well as wages for common occupations.

Wages in the United States, 1950-1959

Jump down to WAGES...
by RACE
by SEX
by LOCATION
by OCCUPATION
in FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Jump down to PRICES for...
FOOD
MERCHANDISE
HOUSING and REAL ESTATE
UTILITIES
HEALTH
TRANSPORTATION and TRAVEL
COLLEGE EDUCATION
SERVICES
COST OF LIVING / CONSUMER EXPENDITURES
PRICES in FOREIGN COUNTRIES

WAGES -- GENERAL SOURCES (all occupations and worker types)

Median annual earnings for full time workers, 1958 and 1969
Provides nationwide figures averaged across all occupations, broken out for male and female workers. Includes only people age 14 and over working full time.
Average annual wage/salary income in 1957
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the average earnings in 1957 for year-round, full time workers over the age of 14 was $4713 for men and $3008 for women. Source: Table 1, page 25.
Federal Minimum Wage chart, 1938-2009
Chart from the U.S. Dept of Labor shows the first federal minimum wage law enacted in 1938 (25 cents), and all subsequent increases through 2009. By contrast, certain states enacted minimum wage laws as far back as the 1910s. See also this history of state minimum wage laws from 1912-1958.
Hundreds of occupations - Typical earnings, 1950s
Fictional Honeymooners bus driver Ralph Kramden earned $62/wk. See actual NYC bus driver pay here.
In the 1959 Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupations are arranged in short chapters. Many of these short chapters include a section titled 'Earnings and Working Conditions." Use the Table of Contents to find a page number, then enter it in the "Jump to" box. Shows typical earnings for many service and professional positions, including engineers, teachers, social workers, lawyers, newspaper reporters (journalists), beauticians, etc.
Congressional salaries, 1789-present
Historical chart shows salaries of members of the U.S. Congress, along with dates of enactment and statutory authority for each pay increase.
Wage trends at selected major corporations and companies
Reports wages paid at selected large U.S. companies from the late 1930s through the 1970s. Source: Wage Chronologies series from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Click "More..." for some of the companies covered.

more... less...

General Motors, Chrysler Corp., Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Berkshire Hathaway, Swift, Armour, United States Steel Corporation, Carolina Coach Co., Western Greyhound Bus Lines, International Harvester Company, International Shoe Co., Bethlehem Atlantic shipyards, Sinclair Oil Companies, Pacific Coast Shipbuilding, Massachusetts Shoe Manufacturing, Ford Motor Company, International Paper Co., Aluminum Company of America, Rockwell International, Boeing, and more.
Consumer Income Reports, 1944-2018
IMPORTANT: wages can be only one part of overall income. Wages alone do not necessarily equate to a person's total income. If income works for your purposes, you can find income tables in the Census Bureau's Current Population Reports P-60 series, "Consumer Income."
This series, which presents data on families, individuals, and households at various income levels, includes a number of annual sub-series as well as individual and advanced data reports.
Click 'more...' below for reports containing 1950s income data.

more... less...
- Income of Families and Persons:
  - 1950
  - 1956
  - 1957
  - 1958
  - 1959
- Income of Persons:
  - 1951
  - 1952
  - 1953
  - 1954
  - 1955
- Family Income:
- Advance data reports
  - Income of Persons Up 10 Percent in 1951
  - Income of Persons at New Peak in 1952
  - Income of Persons in 1954 Equals 1953 Level
  - Family Income Equals 1953 Level: Up 7 Percent Over 1952
  - Income of Men at All-Time High in 1955
  - Family Income Up 6 Percent Since 1954
  - Income of Men at All-Time High in 1956
  - Family Income Up 8 Percent Since 1955
  - Average Income Rose Slightly in 1957 Despite Increased Unemployment
  - Family Income Up 4 Percent in 1957
  - Personal Income Unchanged in 1958 Despite Business Downturn
  - Slight Rise in Family Income in 1958
  - Income of Persons and Families at Record High in 1959

WAGES by RACE

Wage and salary income by race, 1939-1960
Compares median wages and salary income for white race and non-white races, with breakouts by sex. Provides data for the years 1939, 1947, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960. The preface states that "Negroes constitute more than 95% of the non-white residents of the U.S." Source: U.S. Dept of Labor report, The Economic Situation of Negroes in the United States.

Wages by sex, 1950-1959

Fact Sheet on the earnings gap - 1955-1969
This six-page document provides a number of statistical tables that contrast earnings of men and women in the 1950s and 1960s. Some tables show pay by occupation and others by educational attainment.
Women's and men's annual earnings, 1951-1991
Compare women's and men's median earnings over thirty years in one simple table. Year-round, full time workers only. Note: "current dollars" are unadjusted figures. "Real dollars" are computed figures showing adjustment for inflation. Source: 1993 Handbook on women workers.
Median income by occupation for females, 1959
Shows not only the median income by occupation, but the number of females working as athletes, college professors, postmasters, automobile mechanics, construction workers, and "fishermen" as well as all the more common occupations such as librarians, telephone operators, bank tellers, secretaries, etc. This table extends from pages 306-315. Another table in the same source shows the median earnings for each occupation broken out by the number of weeks worked in 1959. Source: 1960 U.S. Census.
Median income by occupation for males, 1959
Many occupations are listed, including college professors (with breakouts by subject taught), clergymen, lawyers, authors, chiropractors, dancers, musicians, entertainers, photographers, funeral directors and many more. Another table in the same source shows the median earnings broken out by the number of weeks worked in 1959. Source: 1960 U.S. Census.
Women's pay in physical sciences, 1954-1958
Chapters in this booklet review earnings for women chemists, geologists, physicists, astronomers and meteorologists, plus there is a table that lists the median salary in 1954-1955 for women in each of these occupations.
Women's wages in part-time jobs by occupation, ca. 1950
Hourly wages for women working part-time as saleswomen, waitresses, editors, librarians, nurses, social workers, teachers, therapists, clerical workers in banks, doctors' offices, insurance companies, and more are listed in the U.S. Women's Bureau Bulletin #238 (1951).
Women in clerical positions - Average starting salaries in major American cities, 1957-1958
Table 3. Weekly entrance salaries for women hired as typists and for other entrance clerical positions in selected major labor markets, winter 1957–58. See also salaries for women employed as secretaries and stenographers, 1957-1958. Source: 1959 Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Wage differences and establishment practices: 17 Labor Markets, 1953-54
Shows average weekly salaries for a variety of occupations with breakouts for men and women. Data shown for 17 major U.S. cities.
Women's earnings in the 1950s by occupation
The U.S. Women's Bureau Handbook on Women Workers series was published annually and included a chapter on earnings. Follow the links below to access these chapters by year:

1952 Handbook of facts on women workers
The chapter "Women's income, wages, and salaries" (p.30-59) is filled with data on women's earnings in 1950-1952:
- Income of women (p.30-34) by year (1944, 1947, 1949, 1950), age group, family relationship, and occupation.
- Factors influencing women's earnings (p.35)
- Factory production worker earnings (p. 36-41)
- Service worker earnings (p. 42-47), including power laundries, restaurants and hotels
- White-collar worker earnings (p. 48-57), including office occupations by metro area, department and ready-to wear stores, teachers and nurses, and social workers
- Women benefiting from old-age and survivors insurance (p. 58-59)
1954 Handbook on women workers
The chapter "Women's income, earnings, family support" (p.21-36) contains 1952-1953 wage data for female workers in select occupations:
1956 Handbook on women workers
The chapter "Women's income and earnings" (p.29-48) contains earnings of women in select occupations in 1954-1955:
1958 Handbook on women workers
The chapter "Women's income and earnings" (p.51-86) includes income data and average earnings by occupations for 1956-1957:
Navy nurse pay
started at $222.30
per month in 1956
- Office occupations, telephone workers, and school teachers
- Factory and manufacturing workers
- Retail trade
- Registered nurses, practical nurses and hospital aids, and other hospital professionals
- Federal employees
- Also discusses the effects of the $1 minimum wage on women's earnings, wages of women in small towns, and starting salaries of recent college graduates
1960 Handbook on women workers
The chapter "Women's income and earnings" (p.57-89) contains data on earnings in select occupations for 1957-1959:
- Census data on the 1958 income of women (p.58-63)
- Earnings of women workers by occupation (p.64-84)
  - Office and telephone workers earnings
  - Manufacturing earnings
  - Retail earnings
  - School teacher salaries
  - Registered nurses salaries
  - Federal employee salaries
- Retirement and investment income

Wages by location, 1950-1959

Click on a state tab above to see further breakouts by city. Most of the sources listed here lead to issues of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Wage Survey. It lists wages and salaries for many occupations, including bookkeeper, accounting clerk, carpenter, crane operator, office boy, office girl, secretary, stenographer, switchboard operator, typist, draftsman, nurse, electrician, engineer, fireman, machinist, mechanic, millwright, painter, pipe fitter, plumber, elevator operator, guard, janitor, truck driver, watchman and more.

Another source titled Employment, Hours and Earnings provides average pay for production workers in manufacturing industries by state and city in 1949 and 1950. Click here for the start of the table, beginning with Alabama, and use the "Search in this Text" box to find data for additional states and cities.

Wages in 40 U.S. cities, 1951-1952
Shows wages for nurses, secretaries, typists, file clerks, bookkeepers, switchboard operators, office girls, stenographers, truck drivers, watchmen, engineers, electricians, carpenters, machinists, mechanics, etc. This source shows breakouts for major and medium-size U.S. cities including Phoenix, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Hartford CT, Providence RI, Buffalo NY, Cleveland OH, Jacksonville MS and thirty more labor markets.
Wage differences in 17 labor markets, 1953-54
Shows average weekly salaries for about 50 different occupations, some with breakouts for men and women. Data shown for 17 major U.S. cities including Boston, Newark, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland Oregon. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1173.
Wages in major labor markets, 1953-1954
Three-part series, with wages for different U.S. cities shown in each. BLS Bulletin no. 1157
Wages and benefits by city, 1954-1967
Shows wages for office and plant operations across all industries but broken out by cities. Includes all the typical jobs that appear across industries: secretaries, clerks, janitors, watchmen, etc.
Wages in 60 labor markets, 1959-1960
Wages for many occupations, mostly office and industrial, in 60 large and medium-size U.S. cities.

Birmingham, Alabama
- April 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1107)
- January 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-10)

Phoenix, Arizona
- March 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1103)

Los Angeles, California
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1094)
- February 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-14)
- March 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-12)
Los Angeles-Long Beach, California
- March 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-13)
- March 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-11)
- March 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-13)
- March 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-15)
San Bernardino-Riverside-Ontario, California
- November 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-15)
San Francisco-Oakland, California
- January 1950 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 996)
- January 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1028)
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1076)
- January 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-9)
- December 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-7)
- January 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-7)
- January 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-8)
- January 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-8)
- January 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-13)

Denver, Colorado
- November 1949 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 985)
- January 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1029)
- November 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1066)
- November 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-8)
- December 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-6)
- December 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-6)
- December 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-7)
- December 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-7)
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-11)

Bridgeport, Connecticut
- June 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1044)
Hartford, Connecticut
- October 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1059)

Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-18)

Jacksonville, Florida
- May 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1110)
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-14)
Miami, Florida
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-6)

Atlanta, Georgia
- March 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1031)
- March 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1102)
- March 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-18)
- March 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-11)
- April 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-18)
- April 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-16)
- May 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-17)
- May 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-19)

Chicago, Illinois
- April 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1034)
- March 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1105)
- March 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-15)
- April 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-14)
- April 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-15)
- April 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-15)
- April 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-14)
- April 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-18)

Indianapolis, Indiana
- December 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1075)

Louisville, Kentucky
- May 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1112)

New Orleans, Louisiana
- December 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1074)
- November 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-5)
- February 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-11)
- February 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-14)

Portland, Maine
- November 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-12)

Baltimore, Maryland
- June 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1045)
- October 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-6)
- April 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-15)
- August 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-3)
- August 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-2)
- September 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-7)
Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-18)

Boston, Massachusetts
- March 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1033)
- April 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1106)
- March 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-17)
- April 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-17)
- September 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-4)
- September 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-2)
- October 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-6)
- October 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-8)
Lawrence, Massachusetts
- February 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-11)
- May 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-21)
Worcester, Massachusetts
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1077)

Detroit, Michigan
- December 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1086)
- October 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-2)
- January 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-12)

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
- November 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1068)
- November 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-7)
- November 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-5)
- December 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-8)
- March 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-14)
- January 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-10)
- January 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-11)

Kansas City, Missouri
- October 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1064)
- October 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-4)
- December 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-6)
St. Louis, Missouri
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1095)
- December 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-12)
- February 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-10)
- February 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-9)
- November 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-5)
- October 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-4)
- October 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-5)

Average weekly and hourly earnings for employees in manufacturing jobs, for each year from 1950-1959 provided in Payroll progress in Mississippi, 1939-1959; a study of wage and salary employment. Tables extend from pages 86-107. This is a publication of the Mississippi Employment Security Commission.

Newark-Jersey City, New Jersey
- November 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1081)
- November 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-11)
- December 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-8)
- December 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-10)
- December 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-12)
- December 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-9)
Trenton, New Jersey
- March 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1104)

Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York
- March 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1108)
Buffalo, New York
- January 1950 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 991)
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1085)
- April 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-20)
- September 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-1)
- September 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-2)
- September 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-3)
- October 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-4)
New York, New York
- April 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1037)
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1101)
- February 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-16)
- March 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-13)
- April 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-17)
- April 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-17)
- April 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-15)
- April 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-17)
Rochester, New York
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1087)

Canton, Ohio
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-10)
Cincinnati, Ohio
- February 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1096)
Cleveland, Ohio
- October 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1056)
- October 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-3)
- October 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-2)
- October 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-3)
- June 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-19)
- September 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-1)
Columbus, Ohio
- April 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1109)
Dayton, Ohio
- June 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1041)
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-9)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- October 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1070)

Portland, Oregon
- June 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1042)
- September 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-2)
- April 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-16)
- April 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-16)
- April 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-12)
- April 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-16)
- April 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-20)

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pennsylvania
- May 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1111)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- May 1950 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1008)
- October 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1060)
- October 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-5)
- November 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-4)
- November 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-4)
- November 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-7)
- October 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-6)
- November 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-8)
- November 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-16)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- November 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1082)
- December 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-9)
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-20)
Scranton, Pennsylvania
- December 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1078)

Pennsylvania legislative officials and employees, 1955-1956
Source: Pennsylvania Manual, 1955-1956 edition, pp. 442-444.

Providence, Rhode Island
- December 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1071)
- December 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-10)
- March 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-14)

Memphis, Tennessee
- November 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1067)
- January 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-13)
- February 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-9)
- February 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-12)
- February 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-13)
- January 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-9)
- January 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-10)

Dallas, Texas
- June 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1043)
- August 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-1)
- September 1954 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1172-3)
- October 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-1)
- October 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-5)
- October 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-4)
- October 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-5)
- October 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-3)
Fort Worth, Texas
- November 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-13)
Houston, Texas
- January 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1084)

Texas public school teacher salaries

1952-1953 as shown in the Texas Almanac, 1954-1955 edition, p. 406.

Salt Lake City, Utah
- December 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1069)

Norfolk-Portsmouth, Virginia
- February 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1088)
Richmond, Virginia
- October 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1058)
Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia
- December 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-18)

Seattle, Washington
- September 1951 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1057)
- August 1956 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1202-1)
- August 1957 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-1)
- August 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-1)
- August 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1265-2)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- March 1952 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1099)
- April 1953 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1116-19)
- November 1955 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1188-3)
- May 1958 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1224-18)
- April 1959 Occupational Wage Survey (Bulletin 1240-16)

Wages by occupation (A to Z), 1950-1959

Accountants, public - 1951 and 1953
Shows data gleaned from IRS tax returns of sole proprietors offering bookkeeping, auditing and accounting services.
Accountants in state government - Average monthly pay, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for accountants employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Accountants and auditors - Average salary, 1959-1960
Shows national averages. Source: Monthly Labor Review, Dec 1960.
Agriculture - Farm labor wages, 1950s
Source: USDA publication Farm Labor. Use the "Filter by date" feature or access issues through the HathiTrust digital library.
Apparel, accessory and shoe retail stores - Employee earnings,1956
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Bulletin no. 1220-5
Attorneys in state government - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for attorneys employed by the states of AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Attorneys - Average salary, 1959-1960
Shows national averages. Source: Monthly Labor Review, Dec 1960 issue.
Attorneys SEE ALSO Lawyers, in this list.
Automotive sales and gasoline service stations - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1220-4
Building trades - Union wages for 40+ occupations in 77 cities
Reports pay for carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers, plasterers and related occupations for 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957. Source: U.S. Dept of Labor publication: Union wages and hours: building trades.

Car sales and gasoline service stations - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1220-4
Carpenters' pay - see "Building Trades"
Chemists in state government - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for chemists employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Child welfare consultants - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for child welfare consultants employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Dental hygienists - Earnings, 1953
Source: Health Manpower Source Book
Dentists - Median income, 1950-1952
Source: Health Manpower Source Book
Doctors, medical - Income, 1959
Shows median net income for all medical doctors, and for particular specialties: surgeons, obstetricians/gynecologists, internists, general practitioners and pediatricians.
Drug stores and proprietary stores - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1220-7

Education, college -- Salaries, 1959-1960
Covers the salaries paid to teachers, professors and administrators in degree-granting institutions and junior colleges. The library has additional data from 1957-1964 in print format (not yet scanned.) Contact us for a lookup.
Education - Teacher salaries in southern states by race, 1951-1952
Table shows average salary for instructional staff in elementary and secondary schools, by race. Figures are provided for the states of AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA, DC.
Education - Instructional staff salaries by state, 1952-1953
Table 22, column 7 shows average annual salary for instructional staff in elementary and secondary schools. Instructional staff include principals, supervisors, classroom teachers, and other instructional staff. Find similar data for other years by checking other volumes in this source: Biennial Survey of Education, a U.S. federal government publication.
Electricians' pay - see Building Trades
Engineers - Median annual income by field, age and education, 1949-1950
Source: Report from the U.S. Dept of Labor
Engineers - Average salary, 1959-1960
Shows average salary by grade. Source: Monthly Labor Review, Dec 1960 issue.
Farm equipment dealers - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1220-1
Farm labor (seasonal hires) - Wages by state, 1954
Source: Farm labor market developments Appendix B, pp. 7-11
Farm labor wages, 1950s
Source: USDA publication Farm Labor. Use the "Filter by date" feature or access issues through the HathiTrust digital library.
Firefighters' salaries by city size, 1954
Shows average annual salaries for firemen working in cities of various sizes, from 100,000 to 1 million population.
Food and grocery stores - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1220-3
Furniture and appliance stores - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1220-6

Gas station owner, 1954
Expenses, income, earnings and profit for gas station owners are described in the Feb 1954 issue of Kiplinger's magazine, pp. 37-40.
Gasoline service stations - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1220-4
Geologists in state government - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for geologists employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Government (state) officials' salaries - 1950
On pages 46-68, this source compares the salaries of heads of executive agencies and state government elected officials in AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Government (county) salaries in Missouri, early 1950s
Shows salaries for prosecuting attorneys, county court judges, magistrates, clerks of circuit courts, recorders of deeds, county clerks, sheriffs, collectors of revenue, county assessors, county treasurers, county coroners, and superintendents of schools in Missouri.
Highway patrolmen - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for highway patrolmen employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Hospital personnel earnings and benefits by city, 1957-1958
Shows earnings for doctors, nurses and many other hospital employees in 16 major U.S. cities.
Hospital personnel - Earnings and employment conditions, 1958

Lawyers' income, 1947-1954
With breakouts by state, by size of law firm, size of the community served, age of the lawyer, number of years in practice, type of clientele, and more. Source: "Income of Lawyers in the Postwar Period" published in the Dec 1956 issue of Survey of Current Business, pp. 26-36.
Librarians in state government - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for librarians employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.

Machinery industries - Postwar wage trends, 1953-54
Survey of 20 labor markets. BLS Bulletin no. 1160
Manufacturing See box below for manufacturing wages by industry.
Medical personnel - Physician, dentist and other health workers' salaries, 1951 and 1955
Median net income of office-based nonsalaried physicians, dentists and male professional workers in health professions.
Medical social worker salaries, 1950
Median annual salaries of medical social workers reported in Health Manpower Source Book (U.S Dept of Health, Education and Welfare)
Military jobs - Army pay tables, 1950
Army pay tables are on pages 1391-1410 of this source.
Military jobs - Army pay tables, 1952
Army pay tables are on pages 1731-1750 of this source.
Military jobs - Army pay tables, 1956
Army pay tables are on pages 575-586 in this source.
Military jobs - Army pay tables, 1959
Army pay tables are on pages 1287-1301 of this source.
Military pay charts (US), 1908-present
This website but it does a good job of organizing a complex topic.

Nurses employed in hospitals - SEE Hospital personnel (above, in this list)
Nurses employed by state government - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for public health nurses employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Plumbers' pay - see Building Trades
Police departments - Patrolmens' salaries by city size, 1954
Shows average annual salary for patrolmen working in cities of various sizes, from 100,000 to 1 million in population.
Printing trades jobs - Union wages and hours
Retail trade jobs - Employee earnings, 1956
Source: BLS Bulletin #1220.
Retail trade - Employee earnings, 1956
Covers wages for employees in general merchandise stores, department stores, and variety stores. Source: BLS Bulletin #1220-2.
Retail store jobs selling apparel, accessory and shoes - Employee earnings,1956
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Bulletin no. 1220-5
Roofers' pay - see Building Trades

Seamen on U.S. flag ships - Earnings
Source:BLS Bulletin no. 1238
Small business owner earnings, 1950s
The U.S. Department of Commerce published this Small Business Series as practical guides for anyone thinking of opening their own retail shop or small service business. Each booklet included chapters on financing, organizing, equipping, and operating the new business.
Read more about Establishing and operating a...:
- Book-keeping and accounting service -- Earning statistics for 1951 and 1953 given on pages 22-23.
- Restaurant
Social workers SEE ALSO Child Welfare Consultants in this list.
Telephone operators in state government - Salaries, 1950
Shows weighted average monthly salaries for telephone operators employed by these state governments: AR, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, OK, TN and WI. Source: Salaries of State Employees: Missouri and Selected States.
Transit (local) - Union wages by city
Shows hourly wage rates for bus drivers, subway employees, trolley workers, employees of elevated rail transit, commuter rail and other public transportation systems for 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957 / 1958.
Truck drivers and helpers - Union wages and hours
Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Manufacturing wages, 1950-1959

WAGES in MANUFACTURING, 1950s -- General sources

See tabs above for specific industries

Manufacturing job hours and earnings, 1919-1960
Very simple table shows average hours and earnings for all production workers in manufacturing for each year from 1919-1960.
Employee earnings in manufacturing industries, 1954-2007
Select any year from 1954-2007; tables of contents will appear for each issue. Look for tables describing EARNINGS expressed in "current dollars." Mostly covers jobs in manufacturing, industry and production. Note that earnings data for states and major cities are also available in these reports.
Manufacturing and industry jobs - Hours and earnings
This publication "Employment, Hours, and Earnings, United States, 1909-90" shows average hourly or weekly wages in both "current" and "constant" (1982) dollars. Data is listed by industry and broken out by sex, but not by occupation. Volume I lists wages for goods-producing industries; Volume II for service industries. Link for Volume II

more... less...

Source: Employment, Hours, and Earnings, United States, 1909-90 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 2370 : Volume I
Factory workers' earnings, 1954
BLS Bulletin no. 1179
Factory workers' earnings, 1958
BLS Bulletin no. 1252
Factory workers' earnings, 1959
BLS Bulletin no. 1275

WAGES in FOOD MANUFACTURING, 1950s

See tabs above for additional industries

Baking Industry - Union Wages and Hours, 1942-1952

WAGES in MOTOR-VEHICLE MANUFACTURING, 1950s

See tabs above for additional industries

Motor vehicles and parts manufacturing jobs - Wages and hours, 1950
BLS Bulletin no. 1015

Wages - Analysis - 1950s

U.S. Wage Stabilization Board
Wikipedia article gives background on this U.S. government agency and its work in the early 1950s.

Wages in foreign countries, 1950-1959

Japan - Earnings of college-educated men, 1955-1980
This article discusses the earnings of college educated men in Japan following the lifetime employment pattern; table 2 on page 33 shows monthly real wages by industry for select years 1955-1980 (source).

Prices in the United States, 1950-1959

PRICES for FOOD, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

Food prices by city - January 1950
Beer cost 9¢ to 25¢ per bottle in 1950.
Provides average retail price for a variety of food items across the U.S. (overall). Click "more..." for direct links to cities:

more... less...

See 1950 food prices in: Atlanta, Baltimore,
Birmingham, Boston, Bridgeport,
Buffalo, Butte, Cedar Rapids,
Charleston, Chicago, Cincinnati,
Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas,
Denver, Detroit, Fall River,
Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson,
Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville,
Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville,
Manchester, Memphis, Milwaukee,
Minneapolis, Mobile, Newark,
New Haven, New Orleans, New York,
Norfolk, Omaha, Peoria,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland ME,
Portland OR, Providence, Richmond,
Rochester, St. Louis, St. Paul,
Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Savannah,
Scranton, Seattle, Springfield,
Washington DC, Wichita, and Winston-Salem.
Food prices by city, 1957-1964
Includes both retail prices and price indexes which show the degree of increase or decrease.
Food prices in rural areas, 1947-1954
Shows the average retail prices paid in small towns and rural areas for groceries such as boxes of corn flakes, packaged soda crackers, canned salmon, canned corn, boxes of macaroni and many other specific meats, vegetables, dairy products, etc.
Food price averages for each year from 1890-1970
One-page table shows 80 years of average retail prices for bread, milk, eggs and other common food items. See page 193 of this source for detail on how the data was collected.
Retail price of whiskey in New York, 1957
Shows retail prices for leading brands of American, Scotch, and Canadian whiskies in New York City in September 1957 (source).

more... less...

Brands included are Haig & Haig Five Star, Teacher's Highland Cream, Johnnie Walker Red Label, Dewar's White Label, Vat 69, Seagram's V.O., Canadian Club, Old Grand-Dad, Old Forester, Old Taylor, I. W. Harper, Kentucky Tavern, Old Crow, Early Times, Ancient Age, Four Roses, Seagram's 7 Crown, Calvert Reserve, Schenley Reserve, and Corby's Reserve.
Farm-retail spreads for farm products, 1947-1964
Lists retail prices for many food staples and food products for each year from 1947-1964. It also shows how much of the purchase price went to farmers. The extensive table spans pages 14-45 in this source.

RESTAURANT PRICES, 1950s

Restaurant food and drink prices, 1950s
Site has nearly 800 scanned restaurant menus from the 1950-1959 decade. This is not a government resource but it can be useful for spot-checking prices for specific food or beverages at restaurants.
Restaurant meal prices by state, 1959
Restaurant directory is arranged by state and cities. Indicates price ranges for breakfast, lunch or dinner at thousands of establishments. Source: Adventures in good eating.

PRICES for MERCHANDISE, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

Average retail prices in 20 major cities, 1955
The extensive tables list prices for the following items. Each of these items is defined in Appendix C. Sales tax for each city/state is in Appendix D.
- Entertainment
  Price of a television set, radio, cost of TV repair, and motion picture theater admission prices.
- Tobacco products
  Price for a pack of cigarettes, carton of cigarettes, price of a cigar. Cigarette tax for each city/state is listed in Appendix D.
- Household appliances, housewares and supplies
  Refrigerator, stove, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, sewing machine, toaster, dinnerware, pans, light bulbs, toilet paper and more.
- Clothing and shoes
  Itemizes prices for men’s, women’s, boy’s and girls clothing and shoes. Also shows the price of diapers for babies. All shoe prices (for pumps, play shoes, work shoes, oxfords, etc.) are listed at the end of this section.
- Home maintenance
  House paint, paint brushes, hot water heaters, sink faucets.
- Household textiles
  Sheets, blankets, cotton bedspreads, towels, curtains, fabric for draperies.
- Furniture
  Bedroom and living room furniture, dinette sets, mattresses, rugs and more.
- Laundry
  Price of laundry detergent. Rates for dry cleaning certain types of garments and for other laundry services.
- Personal care
  Price of bathroom soap, tissue, toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, razor blades home permanent kit, face powder, face cream, and sanitary napkins. Prices of men’s and women’s haircuts and special hair services for women.
Retail prices in New York City, 1958
Single page shows average retail prices for food, clothing, bus and subway fare, gasoline, medical care, eyeglasses, personal items, household appliances, telephone service rates, cigarettes, movie admission, whiskey and more. Source: Statistical Office of the United Nations.
Average retail prices paid BY FARMERS with state breakouts, 1947-1954
Shows retail prices for:
more... less...

For background on the surveys used to collect retail prices in rural areas, see Chapter 3, "Prices Paid by Farmers" in the USDA publication Major Statistical Series of the United States Department of Agriculture: How They are Constructed and Used," Vol. I (source).
Average retail prices paid BY FARMERS with state breakouts, 1954-1959
Shows retail prices for:
Mail order catalogs for Christmas, 1950s
This link leads to WishbookWeb.com, a site that displays complete, historic mail order catalogs in color and offers keyword searching in the full text. Find retail prices for clothing, jewelry, toys, household decor and furnishings, gift items and other merchandise selected for inclusion in Christmas catalogs. Retailers include Sears, Spiegel and FAO Schwarz.

PRICES for HOUSING and REAL ESTATE, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

Median home values by state, 1940-2000
Median home values for states and for the U.S. as a whole. Source: U.S. Census of Housing, choose unadjusted figures.
Median gross rent by state, 1940-2000
Gross rent is defined as "the monthly amount of rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water and sewer) and fuels (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). This source shows data by state and for the U.S. as a whole. Source: U.S. Census of Housing, choose unadjusted figures.
Median rent and median value of homes in the U.S., 1950
Table from 1950 U.S. Census of Housing provides median rent for the U.S. as a whole. (See definitions of contract and gross rent.) Further down on the same page, see the median value of one-dwelling unit structures. The following page shows breakouts by state.
Rent in standard metro areas in the U.S. - 1950
Volume 2 of this source shows rent by Standard Metropolitan Areas (SMAs) for number of rooms, type of heat, presence of plumbing, and by characteristics of the people living in the structures (income, race, etc.) Part 2 has SMAs alphabetically listed from A-D, Part 3 shows D-M, Part 4 is M-S and Part 5 has S-Y. See complete list of SMAs included. For even more detail, see median rent and home values by census tract in major cities.
Median market value of owner-occupied properties, 1950
Look at the bottom line in the table on page 49. Includes only properties that have a mortgage. Source: 1950 Census of Housing.

COSTS to BUILD a HOME, 1950s

Home-building materials sold as a package, 1958
Materials to build this 3-BR home were $4168 in 1958. The lot and construction costs would add to the total price.
Home plan catalog from Pease shows photos, floorplans and material costs. House package prices did not include the lots, cost to ship the freight, construction labor or other exclusions.
Home plan catalog - 1952
This source shows the quality of homes considered affordable to families with incomes of $3000-5000, and $5000-7000 annually. Floor plans and exterior drawings are included. Also includes mortgage charts for financial planning.
House construction costs, 1950
Costs of labor and materials are covered in this book, published in 1950.

PRICE of FARM LAND, 1950s

Farm and farmland values by state, 1950
Shows average farmland value by acre, and the average value of farms (both land and buildings), by state. The USDA definition of a farm is provided on page 2.
Farm real estate values in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa, 1912-2019
Shows average value per acre (statewide) for farm real estate including both land and buildings. Table shows price per acre for each year from 1912 to 2019. Compares the figures to the average for all other states.

PRICES for HOUSEHOLD UTILITIES, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

Electricity - Average monthly bill by city and state, 1959
See U.S. map showing the average monthly electric bill by state, plus average for the whole U.S. Table 1 in the source shows average electric bills for cities having population over 2,500.
Electricity - Average monthly bill by city, 1958
Table compares average bills to those of 1948. Source: Federal Power Commission.
Electric bills, residential 1959-1988
Shows dollar amount of typical electric bills for residential as well as commercial and industrial customers.
Residential gas and electricity, average monthly bills - 1955
Shows data for 20 American cities: natural gas for residential heating, electricity, coal, fuel oil and range oil.
Telephone, average monthly bill in rural areas, 1947-1954
Source tells prices paid by farmers for telephone service.
Telephone service rates - New York City, 1958
New Yorkers paid $6.33 per month for up to 75 phone calls. Source: Statistical Office of the United Nations.

HEALTH CARE PRICES, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

Hospitalization, cost per day - 1950 and 1955
For the cost per day to stay in a hospital, see column labeled "current dollars," as that refers to the dollar cost at the time. Compares the cost of a hospital stay from 1950 to 1976. See page 31 for a chart showing how much of this cost was paid by insurance.
Treatment of medical conditions - Average cost in 1951 and 1964
Shows average cost to treat selected medical conditions, including maternity care, appendicitis, forearm fractures in children, and ear infection (otitis media) in children. Source: Changes in the costs of treatment of selected illnesses, 1951-1964-1971, School of Medicine, UC-San Francisco.
Medicines and medical care costs in 20 US cities - 1955

A semi-private hospital room in St. Louis was $11 to $11.40 per day in 1955.
Price of a visit to see a physician, and for the doctor to make a house call. Prices of obstetrical care, appendectomy and tonsillectomy. Price to have a dentist fill a cavity or pull a tooth. Price to see optometrist and have eyeglasses made. Hospital room rates by class of room (private, semi-private or ward). Price of prescription medicines and over-the-counter remedies.
Medical services - Average costs by city, 1958
Shows the average rates for hospital rooms, doctor visits, house calls and the average costs for obstetrical cases, appendectomies, tonsillectomies and tooth fillings in twenty American cities. Source: 1960 Statistical Abstract of the United States.
Medical services - Average costs by city, 1959
Shows the average rates for hospital rooms, doctor visits, house calls and the average costs for obstetrical cases, appendectomies, tonsillectomies and tooth fillings in twenty American cities. Source: 1961 Statistical Abstract of the United States.

HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES, 1950s

Medical care costs and family expenditures in NYC, 1954
The average total expenditure on health care, dental, eye care, drugs and health insurance was $52 per person in 1954. Source: Family budget standard.
Health care expenditures by consumers in the 1940s-1950s
Congressional document discusses trends in average family expenditures on health care, average cost per patient day in hospitals, the average price of long term care, etc.
Health care expenditures in rural Missouri, mid-1950s
"The Nationwide Survey indicated that the average family in the United States assumed personal obligations of about $119 for physician and hospital services during a year ending ]uly 1953." This report goes into detail on how much residents of Laclede County, MO paid for health care.

PRICES for TRANSPORTATION, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

Municipal bus and streetcar fares - 1955
Reports fares by the ride for twenty different U.S. cities.
Automobile prices and maintenance costs in rural areas, 1947-1954
Indicates the average amount that rural people paid for specific models of Ford, Chevrolet, Plymouth and Buick cars, the price of gas per gallon, motor oil, tires, inner tubes and spark plugs.
A new 1951 Ford Mercury
cost $2189
New car prices in the 1950s according to NADA
Manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRP) for 1950s cars and trucks are available through the NADA website. Choose a make, year, and body type. Select a car then enter any zip code. Click "Get Base Values" to see the original suggested retail price.
Chevrolet new car prices, 1950-1953
See full-page images and descriptions on pages 87-102 in this source.
Used car prices, 1950-1955
Not a government document, but cites government data. Info is at bottom of page 17 in this source.
Price ceilings on used cars, 1951
The federal government put price ceilings on used passenger cars. See prices organized by year, make and model of automobile. Source: Federal Register, Nov 16, 1951.
Greyhound bus fares from Seattle, 1950
Newspaper ad shows fares from Seattle to ten major cities.
Greyhound bus fares from Washington DC, 1954
Newspaper ad shows fares from Washington DC to 22 major cities.
Railroad passenger ticket prices, 1950s-1960s
See fare tables from a variety of railway companies scanned and available on the "Welcome to the Ticket Office" page on the StreamlinerSchedules.com website.
Air travel - Average fare expressed in cents per mile, 1946-1966
Historical airfare rates were published in Forecast of scheduled domestic air passenger traffic for the eleven trunkline carriers, 1968-1977, published by the Civil Aeronautics Board.

PRICES for GASOLINE, 1950s

Price of gasoline, 1949-2011
"Nominal price" was the price paid by the consumer at the time of the transaction. This table shows the nominal price of leaded regular gasoline from 1949-1990. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Gasoline prices by city in 1951, 1958, 1959, 1960
Shows gas prices and gas taxes for 62 American cities. Source: American Petroleum Institute.
Gasoline prices paid by farmers (U.S. average), 1951-1954
Also tells the prices paid for motor oil, batteries, spark plugs, tires and more. Source: USDA Agricultural Statistics, 1955.
Gasoline prices paid by farmers, 1954-1959
Gives nationwide averages for 1954-1958, and state breakouts for the year 1959. Also gives the price of motor oil and tires. Scroll forward in the source for prices of additional auto supplies and expenses.
Gas and car maintenance costs in major cities - 1955
Average price for a gallon of gasoline or a quart of motor oil. Also reports average price of new tires, brake relining, chassis lubrication. Gasoline taxes for each city/state are in Appendix D.
Gasoline, tractor fuel and oil prices paid by farmers, 1951 and 1961
Source: Congressional hearing titled Farm Cost-Price Squeeze, 1961.

HOTEL RATES

Travel guide for African Americans, 1947-1963
Travelguides for African-Americans listed hotel rates
The Travelguide series was subtitled "Vacation and recreation without humiliation." It listed hotels and travel attractions that were friendly to African American vacationers. Issues show nightly rates for many hotels and costs for other vacation expenses such as fishing licenses.
Budget vacations with costs itemized, 1955
The book 150 Budget Vacations from $100 to $1,000 shows prices of hotels, transportation, attractions, etc.
Vacation accommodations, 1953
Travel guidebook lists rates for cabins, cottages, guest ranches, resort hotels, etc. by state. Source: Vacation guide by Duncan Hines.
Hotel rates by state and city, 1959
The travel guidebook New Horizons U.S.A. had a section for price of accommodations in each city, showing rates as of 1959.

COST of a COLLEGE EDUCATION, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

College costs and student expenditures, 1952-1953
"The average tuition and fees at public institutions in 1952-53 approximated $150, while at private institutions it was $550," see page 17 in Cost of attending college: a study of student expenditures and source of income, U.S. Dept of HEW Bulletin 1957 #9.
Average college undergraduate tuition and fees, 1957-1958
Shows cost for residents to attend college by type of institution (university, liberal arts college, teachers college, etc.)
Undergraduate college costs by institution, 1955-1956
The tuition, fees, room and board rates for each individual college and university in every state is listed in this source, arranged by state. Use these quick links to colleges in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Scroll to find the other states in the alphabetical list. Source: Financial aid for college students: undergraduate, U.S. Dept of Health, Education and Welfare Bulletin 1957 #18.
Graduate school costs by institution, 1955-1956
Arranged by state, this source lists the tuition, fees, room and board rates for each individual college and university. Use these quick links to graduate programs in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Scroll to see the other states. Source: Financial aid for college students: graduate. U.S. Dept of Health, Education and Welfare Bulletin 1957 #17.

PRICES for COMMUNICATION, 1950s

See tabs above for additional price categories

Local pay phone call in Wisconsin, 1959
Man using a pay phone
in the 1950s
Local calls made on coin telephones operated by the Wisconsin Telephone Company were 10 cents for the first five minutes and 5 cents for each additional five minutes.
Cost to mail a letter or postcard, 1863-present
Source: the Historian of the U.S. Postal Service.
Cost to send a telegram, 1950
Western Union rates as reported in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission report.
Newspaper prices by city, 1955
Price of a single issue, and home delivery. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

Cost of living and consumer expenditures in the 1950s - Analysis

Household budgets in NYC, 1954
Chart shows typical dollar expenditures by category for various types of families: parents with children, single working men, elderly couples, single mothers, dual-income couples, and more. Source: Family budget standard, pp. 54-55.
Consumer prices in the U.S. 1953-58 : Price trends and indexes
Does not provide retail prices. Instead, it addresses the degree to which prices were rising or falling compared to previous years, and discusses reasons for the general trends in various industries. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 1256

Buying power of historic wages expressed in today's dollars

Online calculator: Present-day purchasing power of a historic dollar amount
The MeasuringWorth.com website provides online calculators, guides and tutorials to help researchers understand the current-day value of historic money in the United States, Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator
This calculator allows you to compare the buying power of wages earned at different points in history. For example, a dollar earned in 2016 had the same buying power as 4 cents in 1913. Conversely, a dollar earned in 1913 had the same buying power as $24.24 in the year 2016.

Prices in foreign countries, 1950-1959

Living costs and conditions in [country] Click a tab above to see:

Cost of housing, home furnishings, electricity, telephone service, food, clothing, education, hospitalization, doctor visits, theater tickets, cigarettes, haircuts, laundry service, cost to hire domestic help such as cooks and gardeners, school tuition, gasoline, drivers licenses and insurance, bus fare, postage rates and more. Foreign currency exchange rates are included. Source: U.S. Dept of Commerce.