This month our question was how much would a teacher have earned in a year in colonial era (say 1650’s) New England? According to “Value of a Dollar, Colonial Era” a schoolteacher in Dorchester, MA earned 30 pounds in the year 1651 whereas one in Dedham, MA earned 20 pounds that same year. According to that same source, a pound in 1650 would be equivalent to $120 in 2002. So, our teachers earned between $1400 and $1600 (in 2002 dollars) for their year of teaching.
“Value of a Dollar, Colonial Era” is a library resource. You can find it on our Research & Homework page and access it with your library card. You’ll find it under V. Once you click in you’ll be on the publisher’s page. This shows all the products from that publisher the library makes available so you’ll have to scroll down to find the specific book.
