Most common jobs 150 years ago in California
Stacker
#1. Laborers (not specified)
- California employment: 37,586
- National employment: 1,031,666
--- #3 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 1,031,666
--- #3 most common job in the U.S.
#2. Miners
- California employment: 36,330
- National employment: 152,107
--- #10 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 152,107
--- #10 most common job in the U.S.
#3. Farmers and planters
- California employment: 24,061
- National employment: 2,977,711
--- #1 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 2,977,711
--- #1 most common job in the U.S.
#4. Agricultural laborers
- California employment: 16,231
- National employment: 2,885,996
--- #2 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 2,885,996
--- #2 most common job in the U.S.
#5. Domestic servants
- California employment: 15,472
- National employment: 975,734
--- #4 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 975,734
--- #4 most common job in the U.S.
#6. Carpenters and joiners
- California employment: 7,413
- National employment: 344,596
--- #5 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 344,596
--- #5 most common job in the U.S.
#7. Clerks in stores
- California employment: 5,040
- National employment: 222,504
--- #6 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 222,504
--- #6 most common job in the U.S.
#8. Draymen, hackmen, teamsters, &c
- California employment: 4,582
- National employment: 120,756
--- #13 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 120,756
--- #13 most common job in the U.S.
#9. Launderers and laundresses
- California employment: 4,043
- National employment: 60,906
--- #21 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 60,906
--- #21 most common job in the U.S.
#10. Traders and dealers (not specified)
- California employment: 3,517
- National employment: 100,406
--- #15 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 100,406
--- #15 most common job in the U.S.
#11. Blacksmiths
- California employment: 3,310
- National employment: 141,774
--- #11 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 141,774
--- #11 most common job in the U.S.
#12. Sailors
- California employment: 2,531
- National employment: 56,663
--- #23 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 56,663
--- #23 most common job in the U.S.
#13. Boot and shoe makers
- California employment: 2,501
- National employment: 171,127
--- #7 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 171,127
--- #7 most common job in the U.S.
#14. Gardeners and nurserymen
- California employment: 2,355
- National employment: 31,435
--- #42 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 31,435
--- #42 most common job in the U.S.
#15. Restaurant-keepers
- California employment: 2,347
- National employment: 35,185
--- #38 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 35,185
--- #38 most common job in the U.S.
#16. Teachers (not specified)
- California employment: 1,953
- National employment: 126,822
--- #12 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 126,822
--- #12 most common job in the U.S.
#17. Stock-herders
- California employment: 1,930
- National employment: 5,590
--- #128 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 5,590
--- #128 most common job in the U.S.
#18. Cigar-makers
- California employment: 1,900
- National employment: 28,286
--- #46 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 28,286
--- #46 most common job in the U.S.
#19. Stock-raisers
- California employment: 1,860
- National employment: 6,588
--- #120 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 6,588
--- #120 most common job in the U.S.
#20. Painters and varnishers
- California employment: 1,850
- National employment: 85,123
--- #18 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 85,123
--- #18 most common job in the U.S.
#21. Traders and dealers in groceries
- California employment: 1,840
- National employment: 74,410
--- #19 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 74,410
--- #19 most common job in the U.S.
#22. Employees of railroad companies (not clerks)
- California employment: 1,742
- National employment: 154,027
--- #9 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 154,027
--- #9 most common job in the U.S.
#23. Tailors, tailoresses, and seamstresses
- California employment: 1,708
- National employment: 161,820
--- #8 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 161,820
--- #8 most common job in the U.S.
#24. Butchers
- California employment: 1,686
- National employment: 44,354
--- #27 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 44,354
--- #27 most common job in the U.S.
#25. Milliners, dress and mantua makers
- California employment: 1,507
- National employment: 92,084
--- #16 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 92,084
--- #16 most common job in the U.S.
#26. Lumbermen and raftsmen
- California employment: 1,366
- National employment: 17,752
--- #61 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 17,752
--- #61 most common job in the U.S.
#27. Officials of Government
- California employment: 1,282
- National employment: 44,743
--- #26 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 44,743
--- #26 most common job in the U.S.
#28. Physicians and surgeons
- California employment: 1,257
- National employment: 62,383
--- #20 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 62,383
--- #20 most common job in the U.S.
#29. Barbers and hairdressers
- California employment: 1,154
- National employment: 23,935
--- #52 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 23,935
--- #52 most common job in the U.S.
#30. Woodchoppers
- California employment: 1,151
- National employment: 8,338
--- #99 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 8,338
--- #99 most common job in the U.S.
#31. Saw-mill operatives
- California employment: 1,150
- National employment: 47,298
--- #25 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 47,298
--- #25 most common job in the U.S.
#32. Hotel-keepers
- California employment: 1,116
- National employment: 26,394
--- #49 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 26,394
--- #49 most common job in the U.S.
#33. Lawyers
- California employment: 1,115
- National employment: 40,736
--- #35 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 40,736
--- #35 most common job in the U.S.
#34. Printers
- California employment: 1,045
- National employment: 39,860
--- #36 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 39,860
--- #36 most common job in the U.S.
#35. Dairymen and dairywomen
- California employment: 1,010
- National employment: 3,550
--- #157 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 3,550
--- #157 most common job in the U.S.
#36. Tinners
- California employment: 998
- National employment: 30,524
--- #44 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 30,524
--- #44 most common job in the U.S.
#37. Engineers and firemen
- California employment: 979
- National employment: 34,233
--- #40 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 34,233
--- #40 most common job in the U.S.
#38. Barkeepers
- California employment: 955
- National employment: 14,362
--- #74 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 14,362
--- #74 most common job in the U.S.
#39. Fishermen and oystermen
- California employment: 951
- National employment: 27,106
--- #48 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 27,106
--- #48 most common job in the U.S.
#40. Soldiers (United States Army)
- California employment: 940
- National employment: 22,081
--- #56 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 22,081
--- #56 most common job in the U.S.
#41. Laborers
- California employment: 914
- National employment: 14,882
--- #72 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 14,882
--- #72 most common job in the U.S.
#42. Book-keepers and accountants in stores
- California employment: 890
- National employment: 31,177
--- #43 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 31,177
--- #43 most common job in the U.S.
#43. Bakers
- California employment: 870
- National employment: 27,680
--- #47 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 27,680
--- #47 most common job in the U.S.
#44. Hostlers
- California employment: 840
- National employment: 17,586
--- #62 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 17,586
--- #62 most common job in the U.S.
#45. Manufacturers
- California employment: 819
- National employment: 42,877
--- #29 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 42,877
--- #29 most common job in the U.S.
#46. Boarding and lodging house keepers
- California employment: 763
- National employment: 12,785
--- #77 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 12,785
--- #77 most common job in the U.S.
#47. Employees of manufacturing establishments
- California employment: 731
- National employment: 20,242
--- #59 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 20,242
--- #59 most common job in the U.S.
#48. Harness and saddle makers
- California employment: 719
- National employment: 32,817
--- #41 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 32,817
--- #41 most common job in the U.S.
#49. Masons, brick and stone
- California employment: 714
- National employment: 89,710
--- #17 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 89,710
--- #17 most common job in the U.S.
#50. Porters in stores and warehouses
- California employment: 671
- National employment: 16,631
--- #67 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 16,631
--- #67 most common job in the U.S.
Everett Collection // Shutterstock