Most common jobs 150 years ago in Virginia
Stacker
#1. Agricultural laborers
- Virginia employment: 162,604
- 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.
#2. Farmers and planters
- Virginia employment: 80,739
- 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.
#3. Domestic servants
- Virginia employment: 54,008
- National employment: 975,734
--- #4 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 975,734
--- #4 most common job in the U.S.
#4. Laborers (not specified)
- Virginia employment: 27,730
- 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.
#5. Carpenters and joiners
- Virginia employment: 6,912
- National employment: 344,596
--- #5 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 344,596
--- #5 most common job in the U.S.
#6. Tobacco-factory operatives
- Virginia employment: 6,073
- National employment: 11,985
--- #80 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 11,985
--- #80 most common job in the U.S.
#7. Blacksmiths
- Virginia employment: 4,077
- National employment: 141,774
--- #11 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 141,774
--- #11 most common job in the U.S.
#8. Clerks in stores
- Virginia employment: 3,680
- National employment: 222,504
--- #6 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 222,504
--- #6 most common job in the U.S.
#9. Launderers and laundresses
- Virginia employment: 3,623
- 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. Fishermen and oystermen
- Virginia employment: 3,580
- National employment: 27,106
--- #48 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 27,106
--- #48 most common job in the U.S.
#11. Tailors, tailoresses, and seamstresses
- Virginia employment: 3,130
- National employment: 161,820
--- #8 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 161,820
--- #8 most common job in the U.S.
#12. Boot and shoe makers
- Virginia employment: 2,986
- National employment: 171,127
--- #7 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 171,127
--- #7 most common job in the U.S.
#13. Employees of railroad companies (not clerks)
- Virginia employment: 2,944
- National employment: 154,027
--- #9 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 154,027
--- #9 most common job in the U.S.
#14. Teachers (not specified)
- Virginia employment: 2,521
- National employment: 126,822
--- #12 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 126,822
--- #12 most common job in the U.S.
#15. Traders and dealers (not specified)
- Virginia employment: 2,355
- National employment: 100,406
--- #15 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 100,406
--- #15 most common job in the U.S.
#16. Physicians and surgeons
- Virginia employment: 2,126
- National employment: 62,383
--- #20 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 62,383
--- #20 most common job in the U.S.
#17. Millers
- Virginia employment: 2,054
- National employment: 41,582
--- #34 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 41,582
--- #34 most common job in the U.S.
#18. Traders and dealers in groceries
- Virginia employment: 1,666
- National employment: 74,410
--- #19 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 74,410
--- #19 most common job in the U.S.
#19. Draymen, hackmen, teamsters, &c
- Virginia employment: 1,575
- National employment: 120,756
--- #13 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 120,756
--- #13 most common job in the U.S.
#20. Masons, brick and stone
- Virginia employment: 1,435
- National employment: 89,710
--- #17 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 89,710
--- #17 most common job in the U.S.
#21. Officials of Government
- Virginia employment: 1,322
- National employment: 44,743
--- #26 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 44,743
--- #26 most common job in the U.S.
#22. Wheelwrights
- Virginia employment: 1,311
- National employment: 20,942
--- #58 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 20,942
--- #58 most common job in the U.S.
#23. Coopers
- Virginia employment: 1,213
- National employment: 41,789
--- #32 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 41,789
--- #32 most common job in the U.S.
#24. Sailors
- Virginia employment: 1,183
- National employment: 56,663
--- #23 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 56,663
--- #23 most common job in the U.S.
#25. Mill and factory operatives (not specified)
- Virginia employment: 1,090
- National employment: 41,619
--- #33 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 41,619
--- #33 most common job in the U.S.
#26. Lawyers
- Virginia employment: 1,075
- National employment: 40,736
--- #35 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 40,736
--- #35 most common job in the U.S.
#27. Clergymen
- Virginia employment: 1,073
- National employment: 43,874
--- #28 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 43,874
--- #28 most common job in the U.S.
#28. Miners
- Virginia employment: 1,025
- National employment: 152,107
--- #10 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 152,107
--- #10 most common job in the U.S.
#29. Traders and dealers in dry-goods
- Virginia employment: 921
- National employment: 39,790
--- #37 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 39,790
--- #37 most common job in the U.S.
#30. Painters and varnishers
- Virginia employment: 836
- National employment: 85,123
--- #18 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 85,123
--- #18 most common job in the U.S.
#31. Gardeners and nurserymen
- Virginia employment: 776
- National employment: 31,435
--- #42 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 31,435
--- #42 most common job in the U.S.
#32. Milliners, dress and mantua makers
- Virginia employment: 748
- National employment: 92,084
--- #16 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 92,084
--- #16 most common job in the U.S.
#33. Carriage and wagon makers
- Virginia employment: 740
- National employment: 42,464
--- #31 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 42,464
--- #31 most common job in the U.S.
#34. Cotton-mill operatives
- Virginia employment: 723
- National employment: 111,606
--- #14 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 111,606
--- #14 most common job in the U.S.
#35. Boatmen and watermen
- Virginia employment: 644
- National employment: 21,332
--- #57 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 21,332
--- #57 most common job in the U.S.
#36. Iron-foundry operatives
- Virginia employment: 559
- National employment: 34,245
--- #39 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 34,245
--- #39 most common job in the U.S.
#37. Harness and saddle makers
- Virginia employment: 554
- National employment: 32,817
--- #41 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 32,817
--- #41 most common job in the U.S.
#38. Cabinetmakers
- Virginia employment: 545
- National employment: 42,835
--- #30 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 42,835
--- #30 most common job in the U.S.
#39. Hucksters
- Virginia employment: 525
- National employment: 17,362
--- #64 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 17,362
--- #64 most common job in the U.S.
#40. Nurses
- Virginia employment: 498
- National employment: 10,976
--- #86 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 10,976
--- #86 most common job in the U.S.
#41. Saw-mill operatives
- Virginia employment: 496
- National employment: 47,298
--- #25 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 47,298
--- #25 most common job in the U.S.
#42. Butchers
- Virginia employment: 489
- National employment: 44,354
--- #27 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 44,354
--- #27 most common job in the U.S.
#43. Carpet-makers
- Virginia employment: 488
- National employment: 15,669
--- #70 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 15,669
--- #70 most common job in the U.S.
#44. Printers
- Virginia employment: 478
- National employment: 39,860
--- #36 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 39,860
--- #36 most common job in the U.S.
#45. Porters in stores and warehouses
- Virginia employment: 471
- National employment: 16,631
--- #67 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 16,631
--- #67 most common job in the U.S.
#46. Soldiers (United States Army)
- Virginia employment: 464
- National employment: 22,081
--- #56 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 22,081
--- #56 most common job in the U.S.
#47. Machinists
- Virginia employment: 446
- National employment: 54,755
--- #24 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 54,755
--- #24 most common job in the U.S.
#48. Whitewashers
- Virginia employment: 441
- National employment: 2,873
--- #170 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 2,873
--- #170 most common job in the U.S.
#49. Traders and dealers in cigars and tobacco
- Virginia employment: 430
- National employment: 8,234
--- #101 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 8,234
--- #101 most common job in the U.S.
#50. Plasterers
- Virginia employment: 428
- National employment: 23,577
--- #53 most common job in the U.S.
- National employment: 23,577
--- #53 most common job in the U.S.

Everett Collection // Shutterstock