GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Interesting article on a carpenter's average pay and expenses circa 1860 in Ohio. Wow, times definitely changed.
From the article:
In 1860 Ohio, carpenters earned an average of $1.39 per day, bringing in about $8.34 per week or $433.68 a year. While this wage was steady, it had to cover both living expenses and tools for their trade. Everyday costs included $0.06 per quart of milk, $0.96 per bushel of potatoes, and $0.14 per pound for fresh pork. Even a simple haircut cost $0.15, making financial planning a necessity for these skilled laborers.
The job wasn’t easy. Carpenters worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week, using hand tools to shape wood for homes, barns, and furniture. Without modern machinery, their work required physical strength, precision, and endurance. Tools like saws and hammers had to be purchased and maintained out of their own pockets, adding to their expenses. Many carpenters took pride in their craftsmanship, knowing their work was vital to their communities.
Carpenters were indispensable during this era of rapid growth and expansion. They built the homes and public spaces that supported families and businesses, laying the literal framework for America’s towns and cities. Despite their modest income and physically taxing jobs, they were the backbone of 19th-century development, shaping a growing nation one structure at a time.
From the article:
In 1860 Ohio, carpenters earned an average of $1.39 per day, bringing in about $8.34 per week or $433.68 a year. While this wage was steady, it had to cover both living expenses and tools for their trade. Everyday costs included $0.06 per quart of milk, $0.96 per bushel of potatoes, and $0.14 per pound for fresh pork. Even a simple haircut cost $0.15, making financial planning a necessity for these skilled laborers.
The job wasn’t easy. Carpenters worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week, using hand tools to shape wood for homes, barns, and furniture. Without modern machinery, their work required physical strength, precision, and endurance. Tools like saws and hammers had to be purchased and maintained out of their own pockets, adding to their expenses. Many carpenters took pride in their craftsmanship, knowing their work was vital to their communities.
Carpenters were indispensable during this era of rapid growth and expansion. They built the homes and public spaces that supported families and businesses, laying the literal framework for America’s towns and cities. Despite their modest income and physically taxing jobs, they were the backbone of 19th-century development, shaping a growing nation one structure at a time.
