Wages
This page gathers together various bits of information I have managed to acquire about wages in the 18th century. Wages did vary over time and place and so should be regarded only as approximate.
Annual Wages for Female Servants
| Position | Annual Wage |
|---|
| Head Woman (of female servants) | £20 |
| Housekeeper | £12 |
| Personal Maid | £8 |
| House Maid | £6 |
| Laundry Maid | £5-6 |
Annual Wages for Male Servants
| Position | Annual Wage |
|---|
| French Chef | £60 |
| Butler | £57 10s |
| Confectioner | £52 10s |
| Footman* | £6-8 |
| Head Coachman | £12-26 |
| Assistant Head Coachman | £9-10 |
| Postilion | £6-11 |
| Post-chaise drivers | £6-20 |
| Head Gardener | £30 |
| Assistant Gardener | £4 |
*Footmen in the first half of the century might expect to make considerably more than their salary from tips or vails. By the end of the 1760's this practice had largely died out. In 1765 a footman's job was advertised for £17 but noting that the vails were small.
Other occupations
| Position | Annual Wage |
|---|
| Ship's Boy | £2 10s |
| First Commissioner to the Admiralty | £3,000 |
| First Lord of the Treasury | £4,000 |
Pottery Manufacture
| Position | Weekly Wage | Yearly Retainer |
|---|
| Skilled Labour (turning,throwing) | 7s - 9s | £1 10s - £2 2s |
| Less Skilled Labour (slipmaking,grinding) | £57 10s | |
| Women's Labour | 2s | 1s |
| Boy Labour | 10d - 2s 8d | 0d - 1s |
| Girl's Labour | 1s - 2s | 0d - 1s |
Wages paid by John Whieldon 1750-1760. The ranges varied over time - I have included the full lowest to highest across the period.
