Social Class of Jobs and Professions

Selection of Jobs and Crafts in Victorian England

According to John Burnett’s The Annals of Labour, before the Industrial Revolution workers divided into two basic categories, skilled craftsmen, “who had learnt a specialized craft or ‘mystery’ by apprenticeship,” and unskilled laborers, “who had only muscular strength to sell,” but the arrival of the “factory system” “vastly complicated this traditional distinction by virtually creating a new category of manual worker — the machine-minder, or factory operative who, though intimately familiar with the particular, sub-divided operation of his machine, was able to exercise only limited judgement or discretion over its performance. For him — or for her, since a high proportion of such workers, especially in the textile factories, were female — a short period of training rather than a long apprenticeship was generally all that was necessary.?

According to John Burnett, Victorian craftsman, who stood at the apex of the hierarchy of labor, possessed

“certain characteristics which marked him off clearly from the rest.  Most importantly, he possessed a degree of skill — a combination of manual dexterity and acquired knowledge — which gave him command over his materials and tools and a high degree of control over the quality of the finished product. This skill almost always entitled him to higher wages and to more regular employment than the unskilled worker, and released him from the drudgery of fetching and carrying, preparatory and rough work, to concentrate on the more exacting, and more creative, tasks. Historically, the craftsman’s wage was approximately double that of the labourer, and although this differential probably narrowed somewhat during the nineteenth century the gap remained very wide: for engineering labourers in large provincial towns the weekly wage in 1867 was 15s. or 16s. while that of skilled men was 30s. Socially and culturally, the gaps were even wider. Most skilled workers, well before the days of compulsory schooling, had received some elementary education.”

Various Occupations and Social Class Upper Class = UC              Middle Class = MC            Upper Working Class = UWC  Lower Working Class = LWC         Destitute = D

Agricultural labourer, farm servant, shepherd LWC Domestic servant LWC Cotton, calico, manufacture, printing&dyeing (employee) LWC Cotton, calico, manufacture, printing&dyeing (manager/owner) UWC/MC Labourer LWC, D Farmer, grazier LWC Boot and shoe maker UWC Milliner, dressmaker UWC Coal miner LWC Carpenter, joiner UWC Army and navy, enlisted & non commissioned ranks UWC Army and navy, Junior Officers MC Army and navy, Senior Officers UC Tailor LWC Washerwomen, mangler, laundry keeper LWC Woollen cloth manufacture (employee) LWC Woollen cloth manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Silk manufacture (employee) LWC Silk manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Blacksmith UWC Worsted manufacture (employee) LWC Worsted manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Mason, paver UWC Messenger, porter and errand boy LWC, D Linen, flax manufacture (employee) LWC Linen, flax manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Seaman (merchant service) on shore or in British ports UWC Grocer LWC, UWC Gardener LWC Iron manufacture, moulder, founder (employee) LWC Iron manufacture, moulder, founder (manager/owner) UWC/MC Innkeeper, licensed victualler, beershop keeper UWC Seamstress, shirtmaker LWC Bricklayer LWC Butcher, meat salesman LWC Hose (stocking) manufacturer (employee) LWC Hose (stocking) manufacturer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Schoolmaster/mistress UWC Lace manufacture (employee) LWC Lace manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Plumber, painter, glazier UWC Baker UWC Carman, carrier, carter, drayman LWC Charwoman LWC Draper (linen and woolen) (employee) LWC Draper (linen and woolen) (manager/owner) UWC/MC Engine and machine maker (employee) UWC Engine and machine maker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Commercial clerk/book keeper UWC Cabinet maker, upholsterer (employee) LWC Cabinet maker, upholsterer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Teacher (various) governess UWC Fisherman/woman LWC Boat, barge man/woman LWC Miller UWC Earthenware manufacture (employee) LWC Earthenware manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Sawyer LWC Railway labourer LWC Straw-plait manufacture (employee) LWC Straw-plait manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Brick maker, dealer (employee) LWC Brick maker, dealer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Government Civil Service clerk UWC/MC Government Civil Service manager MC Government Civil Service Senior Level UC Hawker, peddler LWC Wheelwright UWC Glover UWC Shopkeeper (branch undefined) (employee) LWC Shopkeeper (branch undefined) (manager/owner) UWC/MC Horsekeeper, groom (not domestic), jockey LWC Nail manufacture (employee) LWC Nail manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Iron miner LWC Printer UWC Nurse medical(not domestic servant) UWC Orderly, medical UWC Shipwright, shipbuilder MC Stone quarrier (employee) LWC Stone quarrier (manager/owner) UWC/MC Lodging house keeper LWC Lead miner LWC Copper miner LWC Straw hat and bonnet maker (employee) LWC Straw hat and bonnet maker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Cooper (employee) LWC Cooper (manager/owner) UWC/MC Watch and clock maker (employee) UWC Watch and clock maker MC Brewer (employee) LWC Brewer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Dock labourer, dock and harbour service LWC Clergyman of the Established [Anglican] Church MC Protestant Dissenting minister MC Police, Patrol LWC Police, Detective UWC Plasterer (employee) LWC Pasterer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Warehouse man/woman (employee) LWC Warehouse (manager/owner) UWC/MC Saddler, harness maker (employee) LWC Saddler, harness maker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Hatter, hat manufacture (employee) LWC Hatter, hat manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Coachman (not domestic servant) guard, postboy UWC Law clerk UWC Coachmaker (employee) LWC Coachmaker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Cowkeeper, milkseller LWC Ropemaker (employee) LWC Ropemaker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Druggist UWC Surgeon, apothecary UWC, MC Tin miner LWC Paper manufacture (employee) LWC Paper manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Coalheaver, coal labourer LWC Greengrocer, fruiterer LWC Muslin manufacture (employee) LWC Muslin manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Confectioner (employee) LWC Confectioner (manager/owner) UWC/MC Tinman, tinker, pin plate worker (employee) LWC Tinman, tinker, pin plate (manager/owner) UWC/MC Staymaker (employee) LWC Staymaker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Solicitor, attorney, writer to the Signet MC Barrister, attorney MC, UC Dyer, scourer, calenderer (employee) LWC Dyer, scourer, calenderer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Currier (employee) LWC Currier (manager/owner) UWC/MC Builder MC Farm bailiff MC Hairdresser, wig maker (employee) LWC Hairdresser, wig maker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Coal merchant/dealer (employee) LWC Coal merchant/dealer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Glass manufacture (employee) LWC Glass manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Carpet and rug manufacture (employee) LWC Carpet and rug manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Goldsmith, silversmith (employee) UWC Goldsmith, silversmith (manager/owner) MC Brass founder, moulder, manufacture (employee) LWC Brass founder, moulder, manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Maltster (employee) LWC Maltster (manager/owner) UWC Railway officer, clerk, station master LWC Book binder (employee) LWC Book binder (manager/owner) UWC/MC Road labourer LWC Wine and spirit merchant MC Fishmonger LWC Merchant MC Ribbon manufacture (employee) LWC, MC Ribbon manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Land proprietor MC Railway Company’s servant, Porter, Attendant UWC Costermonger, General dealer, Huckster (employee) LWC Costermonger, General dealer, Huckster (manager/owner) UWC/MC Beerseller (employee) LWC Beerseller (manager/owner) UWC/MC Dockyards Artificers, Labourers LWC Boiler maker (employee) LWC Boiler maker (manager/owner) LWC Gunsmith, Gun manfacturer (employee) UWC Gunsmith, Gun manufacture (manager/owner) UWC/MC Manufacturer, Mechanic (employee) UWC Manufacturer, Mechanic (manager/owner) UWC/MC Chelsea Pensioner UWC Brush, broom maker, seller (employee) LWC Brush, broom maker, seller (manager/owner) UWC/MC Provision Curer,dealer (employee) LWC Provision Curer,dealer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Commercial traveller UWC/MC Railway Engine Driver, Stoker UWC Miner, Coal (branch undefined) LWC Engine driver, stoker (branch undefined) LWC Government messengers and workmen LWC Machinist, machine worker (branch undefined) LWC Agent, broker, factor UWC Musician, Music master MC Cutler UWC Ironmonger, hardware dealer (employee) LWC Ironmonger, hardware dealer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Tobacco,cigar, snuff manufacturer (employee) LWC Tobacco,cigar, snuff manufacturer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Weaver (not otherwise described) (employee) LWC Weaver (not otherwise described) (manager/owner) UWC/MC Gasworks service UWC Municipal, Parish, Union Officer, Postal Manager UWC/MC Institution service, orphanage, work house, postal clerk UWC Wood, timber merchant/dealer (employee) LWC Wood, timber merchant/dealer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Corn, flour, seed merchant/dealer (employee) UWC/MC Corn, flour, seed merchant/dealer (manager/owner) UWC/MC Gamekeeper LWC Manufacturing chemist, labourer (employee) LWC Manufacturing chemist, (manager/owner) UWC/MC Stationer (not law) MC Bank service, clerk UWC Bank service (manager/owner) MC/UC Box and packing case maker (employee) LWC Box and packing case maker (manager/owner) UWC/MC Coal mine service, supplies UWC Street Sweeper LWC Rag Picker LWC, D Beggar D Mud Lark D Rat Catcher D Chimney Sweep (employee) (usually small boys) LWC, D Chimney Sweep (manager/owner) LWC

Note: Being the paid Manager of a factory, shop, warehouse or business is generally an Upper Working Class position. Being the Owner of the factory, shop, warehouse or business is often a Middle Class position.