In today's blog post we're going to have a look back at the social
structure, jobs and wages of the Fort Edmontonians back in 1840's.
At this time, your social structure was largely determined by the
hierarchy at the Hudson Bay Company. Since all men residing within
the establishment were company employees, they were defined by
their roles within the corporate structure. Below is an outline of
the general corporate structure at the Fort during the mid 1840's,
their wages then - and their comparative wages today.
Positions
|
Wages in the 1840's
|
Equivalent in CAD Today*
|
Chief Factors
|
Commission based ~ £400-£600
|
$52,000 - $78,000
|
Chief Traders
|
Commission based ~ £400-£600 |
$52,000 - $78,000 |
| Clerks |
£50-£100 |
$6,500-$13,000 |
Apprentice Clerks
|
£50-£100 |
$6,500-$13,000 |
Interpreters, postmasters & guides
|
£25-£50 |
$3,000 - $6000
|
| Tradesmen |
£25-£40 |
$3,000 - $5,200
|
Boatmen - Steersmans
|
£22 |
$2,850 |
Boatmen - Bowsmen
|
£20 |
$2,600 |
Boatmen - Middleman
|
£17 |
$2,200 |
| Labourers |
£17 |
$2,200 |
Seasonal or unskilled labourer
|
Variable
|
Variable
|
Chief Factors & Traders were the high ranking managers of the
Fort. They were the only individuals to share in the HBC
profits as a whole. The shares varied from year to year based
on the earnings of the HBC - a share was worth as much as £600, and
on poorer years, as low as £250. For the most part these
salaries are what men could expect to earn on the fringes of the
British Isles. Wages in London could be as much as double the
salaries shown here - because of this, the HBC did not generally
recruit men from London.
Compared to the wages of today, you can see a drastic difference
in upper and lower society. It appears a good wage was hard to come
by in Edmonton at this time.