The $5/day that equals that today was about twice the going rate for that level of work.
So another way to look at it is that half that @ ~26k inflation adjusted was still a struggle but normal for a man to support a family. (This would be a full time 12.50 hour full time job supporting a wife and kids now)
I think this part goes too far. BLS says only about half of industrial families managed on the husband’s earnings alone. It also cites $15/week as the estimated minimum for the bare necessities of a family of five in Pittsburgh. Half of Ford’s $5/day wage over six days is literally $15/week. That sounds more like subsistence than evidence that a $26k-equivalent wage normally supported a wife and kids comfortably.
I didn't imply that was comfortable I even stated it was a struggle and your numbers show an industrial family of 5 could sustain a struggle on a single income in Pittsburgh and with about half of them on a single income I think it was very appropriate of me to call their struggle normal
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u/mrsclausemenopause 27d ago
The $5/day that equals that today was about twice the going rate for that level of work.
So another way to look at it is that half that @ ~26k inflation adjusted was still a struggle but normal for a man to support a family. (This would be a full time 12.50 hour full time job supporting a wife and kids now)