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Saturday, February 14, 2026

 


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

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

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

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

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+
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Food & Drink

ItemPrice (1936)
Loaf of bread$0.09 – $0.12
Dozen eggs$0.24 – $0.30
Pound of butter$0.40 – $0.50
Gallon of milk$0.70 – $0.90
Pound of coffee$0.30 – $0.35
Pound of sugar$0.06 – $0.08
Dozen oranges$0.25 – $0.30
Pound of potatoes$0.03 – $0.05
Pound of cabbage$0.03 – $0.05
Pound of beef$0.15 – $0.20
Pound of chicken$0.20 – $0.25
Pint of beer (bar)$0.10 – $0.15
Whiskey (1 pint)$1.00 – $1.25
Apple (single)$0.05 – $0.06
Bushel of apples$1.00 – $1.50
Bottle of bathtub gin$0.50 – $1.50
Liquor flask (empty)$0.50 – $1.00

Men’s Clothing & Accessories

ItemPrice (1936)
Suit (business / everyday)$15 – $25
Suit (fine / tailored / Washington suit)$25 – $50
Shirt$2 – $5
Trousers$3 – $6
Coat / overcoat$12 – $25
Shoes (dress)$3 – $6
Shoes (casual / work)$2 – $5
Socks (pair)$0.10 – $0.25
Hat (fedora, derby, homburg)$1 – $3
Goloshes / overshoes$1 – $2
Gloves (pair)$0.50 – $1.00
Pipe$0.50 – $2.00
Beard trimming kit / scissors$1 – $3
Tie$0.50 – $1.50
Suspenders$0.50 – $1.00

Women’s Clothing & Accessories

ItemPrice (1936)
Dress (casual daywear)$8 – $15
Dress (evening / formal gown)$20 – $50
Skirt$5 – $10
Blouse$3 – $6
Coat / overcoat$12 – $25
Sweater$2 – $5
Stockings / nylons (pair)$0.25 – $0.50
Shoes (daywear)$3 – $5
Shoes (evening / heels)$4 – $8
Hat (cloche / felt)$1 – $3
Gloves (pair)$0.50 – $1.00
Purse / handbag$2 – $5
Wallet / small clutch$1 – $2
Scarf$0.50 – $1.50
Corset / foundation garment$2 – $6
Umbrella$1 – $2.50
Watch (pocket or wrist)$5 – $20
Lip balm / ChapStick$0.10 – $0.25
Sunblock$0.25 – $0.50

Weapons & Combat Gear

ItemPrice (1936)
Revolver / pistol$15 – $30
Semi-auto pistol (1911, Luger)$20 – $30
Tommy gun (Thompson)$200 – $250
Rifle (bolt-action)$20 – $35
Shotgun (double-barrel)$15 – $30
Hunting knife$2 – $5
Bayonet$1 – $3
Shoulder holster$1 – $3
Sword cane$5 – $15
Saber$10 – $25

Ammunition

ItemPrice (1936)
Revolver ammunition (6–8 rounds)$0.50 – $1.00
Semi-auto pistol ammunition (50 rounds)$1.00 – $2.00
Tommy gun drum magazine (50–60 rounds)$5 – $10
Shotgun shells (box of 5–10)$0.50 – $1.50
Rifle cartridges (20 rounds)$1.50 – $2.50
Silver bullets (per bullet)$0.50 – $1.00

Tools & Outdoor Gear

ItemPrice (1936)
Shovel$1 – $2
Gas lantern$2 – $4
10’ rope$0.50 – $1.00
Binoculars$5 – $20
Microscope$15 – $50
Flashlight$1 – $3
Flashlight batteries (set)$0.25 – $0.50
Wind-up clock$2 – $5
Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag)$5 – $15
Trunk / luggage$5 – $20
Fishing gear$2 – $10
Hiking boots$3 – $6

Animals & Livestock

ItemPrice (1936)
Dog (working or pet)$10 – $25
Riding horse$75 – $150
Draft horse$50 – $100
Saddle & tack$15 – $40
Livestock (cow, pig, sheep)$20 – $50

Transportation & Travel

ItemPrice (1936)
Bicycle$10 – $25
Cab fare (short ride)$0.25 – $0.50
Subway token$0.05
Train fare (short regional)$0.50 – $1.00
Ocean liner ticket – Europe (3rd class)$50 – $100
Ocean liner ticket – Asia (3rd class)$75 – $125
Ocean liner ticket – Latin America (3rd class)$40 – $80
Ocean liner ticket – Japan (3rd class)$100 – $150

Lodging & Entertainment

ItemPrice (1936)
Cheap hotel (per night)$1 – $3
Nice hotel (per night)$3 – $6
Fancy / luxury hotel (per night)$10 – $25
Room service (meal)$0.50 – $1.50
Marquee movie ticket$0.25 – $0.50

Office & Media

ItemPrice (1936)
Daily newspaper$0.03 – $0.05
Weekly magazine$0.10 – $0.15
Typewriter (manual)$25 – $75
Typewriter paper (per ream)$0.50 – $1.00
Radio (home set)$25 – $50
Sheet music$0.25 – $0.50


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