In 1860 Pennsylvania, male painters earned $1.50 per day ($468 per year), while female painters made half as much. They worked 60–72 hours a week in unsafe conditions with toxic lead paint. Gold was $20.67 per ounce, and there were no income taxes.
Living costs were relatively low: flour cost $12 per barrel, meat ranged from $0.12 to $0.23 per pound, milk was $0.09 per quart, coal was $4.25 per ton, and hardwood was $4.50 per cord. Clothing was affordable, cotton fabric was $0.21–$0.35 per yard, men’s heavy boots cost $5.64, and renting a four-room home was $6.16 per month. Workers could board for $5.12 per week for men and $3.16 for women. Despite these low costs, low wages made it difficult to afford necessities.
By 2024, painters earn $22–$30 per hour ($45,000–$65,000 per year) with safer conditions, working 40-hour weeks. Many are freelancers with unstable income. Gold has risen to around $2,000 per ounce, and taxes significantly reduce take-home pay.