Making A Living In 1936

 1. Poor / Low-Wage Jobs

(Physically demanding or unskilled work, low pay)

Job	Typical Weekly Wage (1936)
Domestic servant / maid	$6 – $10
Laundry worker	$6 – $10
Farm laborer	$8 – $12
Street vendor / market helper	$6 – $10
Factory worker (textiles, garment)	$8 – $12
Dish washer / kitchen help	$6 – $10
Cleaner / janitorial assistant	$6 – $10
Shoe factory worker	$6 – $12

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2. Struggling Jobs

(Some skill required, still modest income)

Job	Typical Weekly Wage (1936)
Waitress	$10 – $15 (tips extra)
Seamstress / dressmaker	$10 – $18
Typist / stenographer	$10 – $18
Sales clerk (department store)	$10 – $16
Telephone operator	$10 – $16
Hairdresser / apprentice barber	$12 – $18
Schoolteacher (primary)	$12 – $18
Librarian assistant	$10 – $18

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3. Average Jobs

(Stable, skilled, decent living for a small household)

Job	Typical Weekly Wage (1936)
Nurse (general hospital)	$15 – $25
Teacher (high school)	$15 – $25
Office secretary / bookkeeper	$12 – $22
Social worker / case worker	$15 – $25
Shop manager / assistant manager	$15 – $25
Bank clerk / teller	$15 – $25
Government clerk / civil service	$15 – $25

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4. Comfortable Jobs

(Good pay, some prestige, can afford modest comfort)

Job	Typical Weekly Wage (1936)
Nurse (specialist / head nurse)	$25 – $40
Teacher (college instructor)	$25 – $40
Executive secretary / office manager	$20 – $35
Small business owner (shop, dressmaker)	$20 – $40
Journalist / editor (women’s pages)	$20 – $35
Clergy assistant / missionary	$20 – $35
Skilled artisan / craftswoman	$20 – $35

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5. Wealthy / High-Income Jobs

(Rare for women in 1936, typically via business ownership, inheritance, or high-level professional work)

Job	Typical Weekly Wage (1936)
Business owner / industrialist	$50 – $150+
Doctor (specialist / surgeon)	$50 – $100+
Lawyer (partner or rare female attorney)	$40 – $100+
Publisher / magazine owner	$50 – $100+
High-ranking social reformer / government official	$40 – $80+