Wages & Cost of Living

Miners wages constantly fluctuated depending on the price of coal.  The following table gives reported for average wages and some costs of living.

This table is under construction and will be updated regularly

Year	Miners Wages (per day, unless stated otherwise)	Cost of living
1679	7-8 shillings Scots a week (Equivalent 1 English shilling) - Kincardine colliery, Fife [1]
1761	12s. to 13s. [2]
1769	Newbattle Colliery:- Grieve, 7s. a-week ; oversman, 10s. ; banksman, 6s. 7 1/2d. ; bottom-man, 6s. 7 1/2d. ; miners, from 7s. to 8s. 4d. [7]
1771	Scots Colliers - 12s. to 13s. Colliers in Newcastle - 9s. Labourers in Scots Collieries - 4 to 6s. [1]
1791		Bacon 3d. to 3 1/2d. per lb 7lb. peck of meal  10d
1812	20s. [1]
1822	25s. [1]
1836	5s. [1]
1841	2s. per day for woman drawer [3]
1842	2s. [1]
1851- 1863	In 1851 average wage of miners in Scotland was 2s. 6d. a-day; in 1854, it was 5s. A gradual fall then took place ; and in 1858 the average was 3s. ; below which sum it has not fallen, the figures for the six succeeding years being respectively 3s. 6d., 4s., 4s. 6d., 5s. 6d., and 4s. 9d. From these sums about 3d. a-day falls to be deducted for light, sharpening tools, &c [7]
1862	3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. [1]
1869	Newbattle 4s 6d a day Dalkeith 3s 6d a day with free house [7]
1872	Period of wage increases 4s. 6d. rising to as much as 9s. 9d. later in year [1]
1874	5s. [1]
1875		Rents [9]
1876	May 1876 - 3s. [1]
1887	2s. 6d. to 4s. [1]
1894	5s. 3d. to 6s. [1]
1899	5s. 3d. to 7s. [1]
1901	6s. [1]
1903	5s. 6d. [1]
1906	5s 6d. [1]
1907	7s. 6d. [1]
1910		Rents in Lanarkshire [8]
1912	6s. [1]
1914		Rent 2s. 6d. per week to 3s. 2d. [5]
1926	9s 4d to 13s [6]
1931	8s. [1]
1936	9s. [1]
1947	18s 8d for underground 15s. 6 1/2d for surface workers [1]

Sources
[1] R. Page Arnott “A History of the Scottish Miners From the Earliest Times” 1955
[2]  William Grossart "Historic Notices and Domestic History of the Parish of Shotts", 1880
[3] 1842 Royal Commission
[4] 1871 Truck report
[5] Evidence presented to Royal Commission on Housing 1918
[6] Scotsman 3 November 1926
[7] Bremner  "The Industries of Scotland: Their Rise, Progress and Present Condition" 1869
[8] Dr John T Wilson,  “The Housing Condition of Miners”
[9] Notes on Miners' Houses (1875), Glasgow Herald

Newspaper Reports

Scots Miners' Earnings- In a statement issued by the Scottish Coal Association, the question is discussed as to what Scottish miners can earn. It is pointed out that the owners terms are:-

For an 8 hours day a wage not less than 9s 4d per day for coal hewers. Under the agreement prior to the stoppage the average wage earned by all persons, including women and boys, employed above and below ground in Scotland was 10s 2d per day. The skilled miner working at the coal face during the same period made 13s per day.

When the miners resume work they will be able to make the same wages - that is the average skilled miner 13s per day, and the lowest paid adult underground miner 9s 4d per day. Working 5 and 1/2 days, or 44 hours per week, the average wake which a skilled miner can earn is £3, 11s 6d. Although not mentioned in the owners statement, it is well known that the miners have advantages over ordinary workers in the matter of cheap rents and also cheap fuel. [Scotsman 3 November 1926]