From Factories to Farms: What People Earned in the 1950s

The 1950s was a time of significant economic growth in the United States, with the post-World War II boom creating a strong demand for workers and an increase in consumer spending.

This economic expansion was reflected in the wages that people earned during this time period, with many workers seeing significant increases in pay and benefits compared to the previous decade.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for all workers in the United States in 1950 was $0.75, or about $7.90 in today’s dollars.

This was a significant increase from the average hourly wage of $0.64 in 1940. By the end of the decade, the average hourly wage had risen to $1.57, or about $15.50 in today’s dollars.

Of course, these averages do not tell the whole story. Wages varied widely depending on the industry, occupation, and geographic location of the worker.

For example, workers in the manufacturing sector generally earned higher wages than those in the service industry, and workers in urban areas tended to earn more than those in rural areas.

Growth of labor unions

One of the most significant factors contributing to the rise in wages during the 1950s was the growth of labor unions.

Unionized workers had higher wages and better benefits than non-unionized workers, and union membership grew significantly during this time period. In 1950, only about 15% of workers were unionized, but by 1960, that number had risen to 31%.

Another important factor was the expansion of the middle class, which led to an increase in demand for consumer goods and services. As more people had disposable income, they were able to spend more on things like cars, appliances, and entertainment, which in turn created more jobs and stimulated economic growth.

So what were some of the most common jobs and how much did they pay? Here are a few examples:

Factory worker:

Manufacturing was one of the largest industries in the United States during the 1950s, and factory workers played a crucial role in producing goods ranging from automobiles to appliances to clothing.

Depending on the specific job and industry, factory workers could earn anywhere from $0.75 to $2.00 per hour, or about $8.00 to $20.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for factory workers ranged from around $1,500 to $4,000, or about $15,000 to $40,000 in today’s dollars.

Teacher:

Education was another growing industry during the 1950s, as the post-war baby boom led to a surge in demand for schools and teachers. The average salary for a teacher in 1950 was around $3,000 per year, or about $31,500 in today’s dollars. By 1960, that had risen to around $5,000 per year, or about $42,000 in today’s dollars.

Office worker:

As more businesses began to adopt new technologies like computers and telephones, the demand for office workers grew. Depending on the specific job and industry, office workers could earn anywhere from $0.75 to $2.00 per hour, or about $8.00 to $20.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for office workers ranged from around $1,500 to $4,000, or about $15,000 to $40,000 in today’s dollars.

Construction worker:

With the growth of suburbs and new housing developments, the demand for construction workers was high during the 1950s. Depending on the specific job and industry, construction workers could earn anywhere from $1.00 to $2.50 per hour, or about $10.50 to $26.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for construction workers ranged from around $2,000 to $5,000, or about $21,000 to $52,000 in today’s dollars.

Salesperson:

With the increase in consumer spending, salespeople were in high demand during the 1950s. Depending on the specific industry, salespeople could earn commissions on top of a base salary, which varied widely depending on the product they were selling. Some salespeople could earn up to $100 per week, or about $1,050 in today’s dollars.

Nurse:

Nursing was a growing profession during the 1950s, with more women entering the workforce in this field. Nurses could earn anywhere from $1.25 to $2.00 per hour, or about $13.00 to $21.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for nurses ranged from around $2,500 to $4,000, or about $26,000 to $42,000 in today’s dollars.

Truck driver:

With the growth of interstate highways and the trucking industry, truck drivers were in high demand during the 1950s. Depending on the specific job and industry, truck drivers could earn anywhere from $0.75 to $2.00 per hour, or about $8.00 to $20.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for truck drivers ranged from around $2,000 to $4,000, or about $21,000 to $42,000 in today’s dollars.

Waitress:

With the growth of restaurants and fast food chains, waitresses were in high demand during the 1950s. Depending on the specific restaurant and location, waitresses could earn anywhere from $0.50 to $1.50 per hour, or about $5.00 to $16.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for waitresses ranged from around $1,000 to $3,000, or about $10,500 to $31,500 in today’s dollars.

Barber/hairdresser:

With the increase in disposable income, people were able to spend more money on personal grooming and haircuts. Depending on the specific location and clientele, barbers and hairdressers could earn anywhere from $0.75 to $2.00 per hour, or about $8.00 to $20.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for barbers and hairdressers ranged from around $1,500 to $4,000, or about $15,000 to $42,000 in today’s dollars.

Farmer:

Agriculture was still a major industry during the 1950s, and many Americans worked in farming or related industries. Depending on the specific crop and location, farmers could earn anywhere from $0.50 to $2.00 per hour, or about $5.00 to $21.00 in today’s dollars. Annual salaries for farmers ranged from around $1,500 to $4,000, or about $15,000 to $42,000 in today’s dollars.

It’s important to note that these numbers are just averages, and individual wages could vary widely depending on a variety of factors. Additionally, many workers during this time period did not receive benefits like health insurance or retirement plans, which are now considered standard in many industries.

Overall, the 1950s was a time of significant economic growth and opportunity for many workers in the United States. While wages and working conditions were not perfect, the post-war boom created new jobs and industries and lifted many Americans into the middle class. Today, we continue to see the effects of this economic expansion in our modern society.

Here is a chart showing the average hourly and annual wages for some of the most common jobs during the 1950s, adjusted for inflation to today’s dollars:

Job	Average Hourly Wage (in 1950s dollars)	Average Annual Salary (in 1950s dollars)	Average Hourly Wage (in today’s dollars)	Average Annual Salary (in today’s dollars)
Factory Worker	$1.00 – $1.50	$2,000 – $3,000	$10.50 – $15.50	$21,000 – $31,000
Teacher	$2.00 – $3.00	$4,000 – $6,000	$21.00 – $31.50	$42,000 – $63,000
Construction Worker	$0.50 – $1.50	$1,000 – $3,000	$5.25 – $15.75	$10,500 – $31,500
Salesperson	$2.00 – $3.00	$4,000 – $6,000	$21.00 – $31.50	$42,000 – $63,000
Nurse	$1.25 – $2.00	$2,500 – $4,000	$13.00 – $21.00	$26,000 – $42,000
Truck Driver	$0.75 – $2.00	$2,000 – $4,000	$8.00 – $20.00	$21,000 – $42,000
Waitress	$0.50 – $1.50	$1,000 – $3,000	$5.00 – $16.00	$10,500 – $31,500
Barber/Hairdresser	$0.75 – $2.00	$1,500 – $4,000	$8.00 – $20.00	$15,000 – $42,000
Farmer	$0.50 – $2.00	$1,500 – $4,000	$5.00 – $21.00	$15,000 – $42,000

Mental Scoop

From Factories to Farms: What People Earned in the 1950s

From Factories to Farms: What People Earned in the 1950s

Growth of labor unions