Buck thirty five an hour

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by CG

My sister in law was going through her journal today and was sending us texts. In 1970 she got a job at the town library for 1.35 an hour with the promise of a raise to 1.50 if she stayed for a year. I think it was her first real job as a kid instead of picking berries.

I looked it up and it has the same purchasing power of about $11.00 an hour in 2024.

So what can you get say fast food wise with 11 bucks today and what could you get for 1.35 in 1970? Is it a huge difference?

I seem to recall my first hourly job paid minimum wage at $2.30 an hour, in 1976. Washed dishes, free meals, and the waitresses were hot.

Well, I can only compare McDonalds from memory. Until I don't know, 1980s you could get a cheese burger, fries and coke for a buck. I don't recall the size of the coke and fries, it was before the US produced the cows we've become today, but I'll say small fries and drink.

Cheeseburger: $3.49

Small Fries: $1.39

Small Coke: $2.29 (wowza) for $7.17

Minimum wage in 1978 was $2.65. So 2.65x the cost of a burger, fries and coke.

$11 an hour is 1.53x the cost of a burger fries and coke today.

Then again, if you want a Big Mac meal, that starts at $11.89 before tax, so, yikes.