In 1860 Massachusetts, bricklayers were essential workers building homes, businesses, and public structures. They earned about $1.53 per day, adding up to $477.36 per year, which was enough to cover basic needs at the time. Everyday items were much cheaper than today, smoked ham cost $0.13 per pound, rice was $0.08 per pound, and farmland averaged $32.52 per acre. There was no federal income tax yet (it wouldn’t be introduced until 1861), but workers still had to deal with property taxes and other local fees. Gold, valued at $20.67 per ounce, was a key measure of wealth, though most laborers didn’t have much access to it.
Bricklayers worked long hours, often more than 10 hours a day, in all kinds of weather, handling heavy materials and carefully laying bricks with precision. Without modern safety gear or labor laws, injuries were common, and there was little job security if something went wrong. The work was tough, but demand was high, as cities and towns were expanding rapidly.
Today, bricklayers in Massachusetts earn about $30 to $40 per hour, or more than $60,000 per year, with benefits and workplace protections that didn’t exist in the 19th century. While land and living costs are much higher now, modern workers have more financial stability and legal rights. Still, many of the structures built in the 1800s remain standing, a testament to the craftsmanship of bricklayers from that era.