In 1850, a pressman in the Northeast earned roughly $1.58 per day, or about $493 annually. Pressmen were critical for the burgeoning newspaper and book industry, operating printing presses that brought the latest news and literature to the public—however, their wages meant that even the simplest comfort, such as a new vest at $2.30, was a significant expense.
Pressmen Pay Wages – Northeast 1850
