What did people do for a living in the 1800s?
I have a nice breakdown of occupations for people over 10 years old reported in the census.
Industry | 1870 | 1880 | 1890 |
Agriculture | 53% | 49.4% | 42.6% |
Forestry and Fishing | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.8% |
Extraction of Minerals | 1.4% | 1.7% | 1.9% |
Manufacturing and mechanical industries | 20.5% | 22.1% | 23.7% |
Transportation and communication | 4.2% | 4.8% | 6.0% |
Trade | 6.8% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
Public Service | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
Professional Service | 2.6% | 3.2% | 3.8% |
Domestic and personal service | 9.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
Clerical occupations | 0.6% | 0.9% | 2.0% |
Percentage of Occupations by Men
Industry | 1870 | 1880 | 1890 |
Agriculture | 58.1% | 54.0% | 47.3% |
Forestry and Fishing | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.9% |
Extraction of Minerals | 1.7% | 2.0% | 2.3% |
Manufacturing and mechanical industries | 20.7% | 21.6% | 23.2% |
Transportation and communication | 4.9% | 5.6% | 7.1% |
Trade | 7.8% | 8.9% | 9.9% |
Public Service | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.0% |
Professional Service | 2.3% | 2.5% | 2.3% |
Domestic and personal service | 2.5% | 2.8% | 3.2% |
Clerical occupations | 0.7% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
Percentage of Occupations by Women
Industry | 1870 | 1880 | 1890 |
Agriculture | 23.7% | 23.6% | 19.9% |
Forestry and Fishing | – | – | – |
Extraction of Minerals | – | – | – |
Manufacturing and mechanical industries | 19.0% | 24.8% | 26.2% |
Transportation and communication | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
Trade | 1.0% | 2.2% | 3.5% |
Public Service | – | – | – |
Professional Service | 4.9% | 6.7% | 7.8% |
Domestic and personal service | 51.2% | 42.2% | 40.2% |
Clerical occupations | 0.1% | 0.3% | 1.9% |
Breakdowns of specializations by Industry
Agriculture
Farmers, owners and tenants
Farm managers and foremen
Farm laborers
Forestry and Fishing
Fisherment and Oystermen
Foresters, forest rangers and timber cruisers
Owners and managers of log and timber camps
Lumbermen, raftsmen and woodchoppers
Extraction of minerals
Operators, managers and officials
Inspectors
Foremen and overseers
Coal mine operatives and other operatives
Manufacturing and mechanical industries
Blacksmiths
Blacksmiths apprentices
Boilermakers
Boilermakers apprentices
Brick and stone masons and tile layers
Mason’s apprentices
Cabinetmakers
Carpenters
Coopers
Electricians
Engineers
Firemen except for locomotive and fire department
Oilers of machinery
Engravers
Machinists
Builders and building contractors
Managers and officials manufacturing
Manufacturers
Painters, glaziers, varnishers, enamelers, etc
Paper hangers
Plasterers
Plumbers and gas and steam fitters
Roofers and slaters
Operatives, laborers, and allied occupations
Building, general and not specified laborers
Chemical and allied industries
Operatives, explosives, ammunition, and fireworks factories
Laborers, explosives, ammunition, and fireworks factories
Operatives fertilizer factories
Operatives petroleum factories
Operatives soap factories
Operatives, other chemical factories
Cigar and Tobacco factories
Operatives
Laborers
Clay, glass and stone industries
Operatives, brick, tile and terra-cotta factories
Laborers
Glass blowers
Operatives, glass factories
Laborers
Stonecutters
Operatives, marble and stone yards
Laborers
Operatives, potteries
Laborers
Clothing industries
Operative, corset factories
Laborers
Operatives, glove factories
Laborers
Operatives, hat factories (felt)
Laborers
Operatives, shirt, collar and cuff factories
Laborers
Milliners and millinery dealers
Apprentices
Dressmakers and seamstresses (not in factory)
Apprentices
Operatives, other clothing factories
Laborers
Tailors and tailoresses
Operatives, suit, coat and overall factories
Laborers
Food Industries
Bakers
Operatives, bakeries
Laborers
Operatives, butter, cheese, and condensed milk factories
Laborers
Operatives, candy factories
Laborers
Operatives, fish curing and packing
Laborers
Millers (grain, flour, feed, etc)
Operatives, flour and grain mills
Laborers
Operatives, fruit and vegetable canning, etc
Laborers
Operatives, slaughter and packing houses
Laborers
Operatives, sugar factories and refineries
Laborers
Operatives, other food factories
Laborers
Iron and steel, machinery, and vehicle industries
Filers, grinders, buffers and polishers (metal)
Forgemen and hammermen
Furnace men, smelter men, heaters, puddlers, etc
Iron molders, founders, and casters
Rollers and roll hands (metal)
Structural iron workers (building)
Toolmakers and die setters and sinkers
Operatives, agricultural implement factories
Laborers
Operatives, automobile factories
Laborers
Operatives, automobile repair shops
Laborers
Operatives, blast furnaces and steel rolling mills
Laborers
Operatives, ship and boat building
Laborers
Operatives, wagon and carriage factories
Laborers
Operatives, other iron and steel and machinery factories
Laborers
Metal industries except iron and steel
Jewelers and watchmakers (not in factory)
Jewelers’, watchmakers’, goldsmiths’, and silversmiths’ apprentices
Operatives, clock and watch factories
Laborers
Brass molders, founder, and casters
Operatives, brass mills
Laborers
Coppersmiths
Operatives, copper factories
Laborers
Goldsmiths and silversmiths
Operatives, gold and silver factories
Laborers
Jewelers and lapidaries
Operatives, jewelry factories
Laborers
Operatives lead and zinc factories
Laborers
Tinsmiths, and sheet metal workers
Tinsmiths’ and coppersmiths’ apprentices
Operatives, tinware, enamelware, etc., factories
Laborers
Other molders, founders and casters
Operatives, other metal factories
Laborers
Operatives, not specified metal industries
Laborers
Leather industries
Operatives, harness and saddle factories
Laborers
Operatives, leather belt, leather goods, etc., factories
Laborers
Operatives, trunk, suit case, and bag factories
Laborers
Shoemakers and cobblers
Operatives, shoe factories
Laborers
Operatives, Tanneries
Laborers
Liquor and beverage industries
Operatives, liquor and beverage industries
Laborers
Lumber and Furniture industries
Sawyers
Operatives, furniture factories
Laborers
Operatives, piano and organ factories
Laborers
Operatives, saw and planing mills
Laborers
Operatives, other woodworking factories
Laborers
Paper, printing and allied industries
Compositors, linotypers, and typesetters
Electrotypers, stereotypers, and lithographers
Pressmen and plate printers (printing)
{rinters’ and bookbinders’ apprentices
Operatives, printing, publishing, and engraving
Laborers
Operatives, blank book, envelope, tag, paper bag, etc., factories
Laborers
Operatives, paper and pulp mills
Laborers
Operatives, paper box factories
Laborers
Textile industries
Operators, carpet mills
Laborers
Operators, cotton mills
Laborers
Operators, knitting mills
Laborers
Operatives, rope and cordage factories
Laborers
Operatives, silk mills
Laborers
Dyers
Operatives, textile dyeing, finishing, and printing mills
Laborers
Operative, sail, awning, and tent factories
Laborers
Operatives, woolen and worsted mills
Laborers
Operatives, hemp, jute, and linen mills
Laborers
Operatives, lace and embroidery mills
Laborers
Operatives, other and not specified textile mills
Laborers
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries
Operative, broom and brush factories
Laborers
Operative, button factories
Operatives, rubber factories
Operatives, straw factories
Cement finishers
Cranemen, derrickmen, hoistmen, etc
Foremen and overseers (manufacturing)
Loom fixers
Mechanics (not otherwise specified)
Millwrights
Other apprentices in manufacturing
Paino and organ tuners
Skilled occupations (not otherwise specified)
Upholsterers
Operatives, building industry
Operatives, car and railroad shops
Laborers
Operatives,c charcoal and coke works
Laborers
Operatives, electric light and power plants
Laborers
Operatives, electrical machinery and supply factories
Laborers
Operative, gas works
Laborer
Operatives, lime, cement, and artificial stone factories
Laborers
Operatives, paint and varnish factories
Laborers
Operatives, turpentine farms and distilleries
Laborers
Operatives, other miscellaneous manufacturing industries
Laborers
Operatives, not specified industries and services
Laborers
Transportation and Communication
Apprentices
Aviators
Boatmen, canal men, and lock keepers
Chauffeurs, and track and tractor drivers
Draymen, teamsters, and carriage drivers
Foremen, and overseers, air transportation
Foremen, and overseers, other transportation and communication
Foremen, and overseers, garages, greasing stations, and automatic laundries
Foremen, and overseers, steam railroad
Foremen, and overseers, street railroad
Foremen, and overseers, other transportation and communication
Inspectors, street railroad
Garage laborers
Hostlers and stable hands
Laborers, air transportation
Laborers, truck, transfer, and cab companies
Laborers, road and street
Foremen, road, street, etc., building and repairing
Laborers, express companies
Laborers, pipelines
Laborers, water transportation
Laborers, other transportation and communication
Longshoremen and stevedores
Garage owners and officials
Proprietors, managers, and officials, air transportation
Owners and managers, truck, transfer, and cab companies
Officials and superintendents, steam and street railroads
Agents, express companies
Express messengers
Inspectors, telegraph and telephone
Proprietors, managers and officials, telegraph and telephone
Proprietors, managers, and officials, other transportation and communication
Steam railroad employees
Baggagemen
Boiler washers and engine hostlers
Brakemen
Conductors
Freight agents
Inspectors
Laborers
Locomotive engineers
Locomotive firemen
Motormen
Switchmen and flagmen
Ticket and station agents
Yardmen
Other occupations
Street railroad employees
Baggagemen
Conductors
Freight agents
Laborers
Motormen
Switchmen and flagmen
Ticket and station agents
Other occupations
Telegraph and telephone linemen
Foremen, telegraph and telephone
Laborers
Other occupations, telegraph and telephone
Telegraph operators
Radio operators
Telephone operators
All other occupations
Mail carriers
Railway mail clerks
Inspectors, other transportation and communication
Postmasters
Telegraph messengers
Other occupations
Road, street, building and repairing
Other transportation and communication
Trade
Auctioneers
Commercial travelers
Deliverymen
Floorwalkers, foremen, and overseers
Newsboys
Retail dealers
Wholesale dealers, importers, and exporters
Proprietors, managers, and officials, grain elevators
Salesmen and saleswomen (stores)
“Clerks” in sotres
Undertakers
All other occupations
Advertising agents
Apprentices, wholesale and retail trade
Bankers, brokers, and money lenders
Canvassers
Decorators, drapers, and window dressers
Demonstrators
Inspectors, gaugers, and samplers
Insurance agents, managers and officials
Laborers, porters and helpers in stores
Proprieters, managers and officials (not otherwise specified)
Real estate agents and officials
Sales agents
Other pursuits in trade