Elizabethan Money: Wages

ExampleWagesNotes
Lord BedfordL 100,000 per annum Derived from rents on several large estates, government offices, timber, tin, sales of produce of his own manorial farms, etc.
Very successful merchantUp to L 100,000 per annum Merchant trading abroad make more than those keeping to a purely local market. So do those who lend out money at a profit.
The QueenL 60,000 - L 75,000 per annum This includes the expenses of the royal Household and other routine costs of government.
Lord BurghleyL 4,000 per annum His actual salary from his various offices is no more than L 100 per office. Any government official has other sources of revenue.
NoblemanL 1,500 to 3,000 per annum Much of this may be tied up in land, annuities for younger brothers, dowries for sisters, and "widow's thirds" for dowagers.
Country gentlemanL 50 - L 150 per annum Mainly from rents and profit from his own husbandry.
Successful merchantL 100 per annum
Country parsonL 20 per annum
CarpenterAbout 5s per week = 260s per annum = L 13 per annum
Unskilled laborer3d - 4d per day = about L 5 per annum

Military Wages
Military RankDaily
Wages		(Pence)
Captain8 shillings96
Lieutenant4 shillings48
Barber-Surgeon4 shillings48
Ensign2 shillings24
Drummer20 pence
Sergeant1 shilling12
Corporal10 pence
Pikeman8 pence*
* 4 1/2 pence per day was taken from a pikeman's pay for his food and the transportation costs of his food. He still had to pay for his drink.

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Copyright © 2001 Gary Kephart