In the 1920s, people were a lot happier than they are today. As a matter of fact, most people would say that life is nowhere near as good today as it was back in the day. And if you’re reading this, then you might agree with them; although there are exceptions to the rule, of course. With that being said, let’s take a look at what the average person earned back in the day — and how much it’s changed over time.
In the early 1920s, the average family income was below $2000 per year. The cost of living was very low in comparison to today, and groceries were just as cheap. A five-pound chicken today cost just 15 cents.
The roaring twenties were a time of glamor and plenty. Think of the happiness, the glamour and thrills. The rise in wages and employment opportunities also led to a dramatic lifestyle change as many Americans began to travel, drink and enjoy entertaining at home more than ever before. In 1925, private automobile production had reached nearly four million cars, up from fewer than 600,000 six years prior (HOW Many Is A Lot Of Cars).
In order to truly understand the magnitude of the Great Depression, you must be aware of what was going on in the US, and around the world at that time. The 1920s was an era where people and business lives changed drastically due to inventions such as planes, cars, and telephones. Often times movie stars were more relevant than presidents. If a person had money, he would spend it, if he was poor he would go into debt. Inequality was prominent but accepted. Although there were a few rich people who were gaining wealth while others struggled to find work.
During the 1920s, inflation rose dramatically. Tragically, this period also marked the peak of income inequality in the United States.
The average annual income was $1,565.00 In today’s dollars, this is $26,719.70
The fact I’m posting this shows how little I know about writing blog intros and how little the Internet has to offer. Oh well, in a first attempt to get better at it I thought it would be a cool idea to take a look at the average salary people earned in the 1920s. Let’s see how we did! 🙂
Did you know that the average salary per American citizen in the 1920s was $12,000? You could get an iPhone 6 plus for about $17. Obviously the price of consumer goods has changed quite a lot since then, but it’s still fascinating to look at how much money people were making back then.
The average wage in the 1920s was $1,921 per year. That’s barely enough to buy a new suit. In today’s money, that’s about $30,000 per year. Or at least, that’s what we calculate it to be on our inflation charts.
The 1920s was a great decade if you were a member of the stock market, but this was not the case if you were an average worker. The average salary in the 1920s was just $750 per year. Furthermore, 25% of all families lived on less than $1,000 per year and an additional 33% earned under $1,500 per year.
The 1920s in the U.S.A is often associated with an era of prosperity and excess, a time of economic boom and unbridled innovation, but it was also a decade where the average American worker’s salary was rather modest – assuming that he or she could find a job at a time when as many as 12 % of the country’s workforce were unemployed.
I’m not sure what you might know about the 1920s. So I’ll give you a little background. The 1920s were a time of change in America. Some people called it “the Roaring ’20s” because there was so much prosperity, and therefore a lot of new high-paying jobs. What’s more, women also started to enter the workforce for the first time. And of course all this economic activity meant that businesses were doing better than ever — as we all know, this is good news for CEO’s and stockholders. Here’s a snapshot from 1920 to show you what jobs paid back then …
Average salary in the 1920s
When you think of the 1920s,you probably picture mint juleps and bobbed hair, or you remember the flappers that danced the Charleston. While most memories of the 1920s revolve around life in the Roaring Twenties,the decade also holds many facts about income,corrections,and industry averages. Here are some facts about average salary in the 1920s.
The 1920s was considered modern times. The world was a changing, growing and evolving faster than ever. Times were exciting, but not easy as people in the 1920s were struggling financially more than any other time in history. From wages to the cost of living, here we have some data that showcases how much the typical american family could earn each year during this decade.
In the 1920’s there was a significant difference between men and women’s earnings. Men made more money than their female counterparts. The average salary was $2,500 in the 1920s. This is a good example of how the economy has changed over time.
It was a different world in the 1920s, at least if you compare it to today. The average person did not earn much money and they were just getting used to the idea of paying for all services by credit cards. We look back on this era with bewilderment, but were things really that different?
That’s right the 1920s. Instead of getting into all the nitty gritty, I’ll focus on the major news and events that made this decade stand out more than most in our history.
The 1920s saw the after effects of World War 1, a decade of economic growth, the move away from heavy industry into the new world of technology, and the rise in silent movie actors who became household names.
