The Wages of Victorian Servants: How Much Did They Earn?

During the Victorian era, the wages of servants varied significantly based on their roles, experience, and the household they worked for. This article provides a detailed overview of servant wages during that period, along with the general conditions and the factors influencing their earnings.

General Overview of Victorian Servants' Wages

Victorian servants' wages varied widely, with general servants typically earning between ￡20 and ￡30 per year. They were responsible for tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and laundry.

Housemaids earned a slightly higher amount, ranging from ￡15 to ￡25 per year, which varied depending on their responsibilities and the size of the household they worked in. Cooks, due to their specialized skills, could earn between ￡25 and ￡50 per year. Butlers, who were in charge of managing household staff, often earned between ￡50 and ￡100 per year.

Footmen, depending on their rank and duties, could earn anywhere from ￡20 to ￡40 per year. Nannies and governesses, who provided childcare, could earn between ￡20 and ￡50 per year, often with room and board included.

Factors Influencing Wages

Several factors influenced the wages of Victorian servants, including the type of servant, the household they worked in, and the social class of the employer. In general, male servants were paid more than female servants. For instance, a scullery maid might start as a lowly servant, but with hard work, she might eventually become a cook, which would significantly improve her earnings. Similarly, a junior housemaid could potentially become a housekeeper, and a junior footman or boot-boy could eventually become a butler.

Wages were generally lower in rural areas compared to urban settings. However, even with lower wages, servants often lived in-house, receiving room and board as part of their compensation. This arrangement meant that servants usually had more disposable income than many other working-class people.

Example of Actual Earnings

It was not uncommon for some maidservants to live with the family they served, receiving less than two pounds per year in actual money. However, they were provided with bed and board as part of the job. The amount of money a Victorian maid made depended largely on the employer. Some employers paid as little as 10 to 12 shillings per week, while others paid up to 25 to 30 shillings. In today's money, this would equate to approximately ￡5 to ￡15 per week.

Conclusion

The earnings of Victorian servants were influenced by a multitude of factors, reflecting the complex and hierarchical nature of Victorian society. While the wages themselves may have seemed modest, the combination of room and board provided by the employers often resulted in a higher standard of living for the servants compared to many other members of the working class.