Was it realistic for Eddie to be making 80 dollars a week? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

rusty spike · 02-16-2023, 12:01 PM

Was it realistic for Eddie to be making 80 dollars a week working full time as a gas jockey?

It seems that if that was true then many high school students would have been dropping out to work as unskilled gasoline attendants.

It seems like Goober from TAGS worked equally hard if not harder at a service station and he wasn't really making ends meet.

icecream · 02-16-2023, 01:18 PM

Knowing Eddie, he probably blackmailed his employer into more money.

Tankeryanker · 02-16-2023, 07:21 PM

That would only be $2/hr working 40 hrs. What was minimum wage then?

stevea · 02-16-2023, 10:05 PM

A few years later--mid to late 1960s--I made $2 an hour as a camp counselor and mowing lawns. So it sounds about right.

One of the people I mowed for had a farm, with a fenced in pool area. They had a small tractor mower, and it was difficult maneuvering it around the pool. When he said, Mow the pool, I hated that! Or I hated on hot days, when he said, Mow the lane. Long lane, both sides!

rusty spike · 02-17-2023, 12:59 PM

It said 1.00 an hour for US - 1960- min wage. Of course, Eddie kept spilling gasoline (over flowing) customer's tanks and the boss was telling him off pretty good (putting 19 gallons into a tank that holds 18 gallons). He also overfilled Mr. Farmer- his principal's tank too.

I'm thinking he made 40 dollars a week (and less to cover the spilled gas).

stevea · 02-17-2023, 01:16 PM

I think he told all the guys he was making a cool $80 a week. Of course he was never known to exaggerate-ha ha. Mr. Thompson was probably paying him $80 per two weeks.

The approx. $1 min. wage would account for all the wows from the guys when Eddie made the cool $80 a week remark.

Considering the mistakes he was making, he probably wouldn't have made it to the first check; but, Mr. Farmer's speech convinced him to go back to school.

Rich3 · 05-26-2023, 10:55 PM

It's the equivalent to 800 now, or $20 per hour. Wages were relatively higher back then, so it's not unreasonable.

damon strong · 05-29-2023, 03:25 PM

When my mother married in 1959 she was earning 70 cents an hour as a cashier.

Stepperry40 · 05-29-2023, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damon strong

When my mother married in 1959 she was earning 70 cents an hour as a cashier.

Would a gas station attendant have been making the same amount as a Cashier or more?

02-16-2023, 12:01 PM	#1
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Was it realistic for Eddie to be making 80 dollars a week? Was it realistic for Eddie to be making 80 dollars a week working full time as a gas jockey? It seems that if that was true then many high school students would have been dropping out to work as unskilled gasoline attendants. It seems like Goober from TAGS worked equally hard if not harder at a service station and he wasn't really making ends meet.

02-16-2023, 01:18 PM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,798	Knowing Eddie, he probably blackmailed his employer into more money.
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02-16-2023, 07:21 PM	#3
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,049	That would only be $2/hr working 40 hrs. What was minimum wage then?

02-16-2023, 10:05 PM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,749	A few years later--mid to late 1960s--I made $2 an hour as a camp counselor and mowing lawns. So it sounds about right. One of the people I mowed for had a farm, with a fenced in pool area. They had a small tractor mower, and it was difficult maneuvering it around the pool. When he said, Mow the pool, I hated that! Or I hated on hot days, when he said, Mow the lane. Long lane, both sides!

02-17-2023, 12:59 PM	#5
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	It said 1.00 an hour for US - 1960- min wage. Of course, Eddie kept spilling gasoline (over flowing) customer's tanks and the boss was telling him off pretty good (putting 19 gallons into a tank that holds 18 gallons). He also overfilled Mr. Farmer- his principal's tank too. I'm thinking he made 40 dollars a week (and less to cover the spilled gas).

02-17-2023, 01:16 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,749	I think he told all the guys he was making a cool $80 a week. Of course he was never known to exaggerate-ha ha. Mr. Thompson was probably paying him $80 per two weeks. The approx. $1 min. wage would account for all the wows from the guys when Eddie made the cool $80 a week remark. Considering the mistakes he was making, he probably wouldn't have made it to the first check; but, Mr. Farmer's speech convinced him to go back to school.

05-26-2023, 10:55 PM	#7
Rich3 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 696	It's the equivalent to 800 now, or $20 per hour. Wages were relatively higher back then, so it's not unreasonable.

05-29-2023, 03:25 PM	#8
damon strong Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 17, 2010 Location: Toronto ontario Posts: 143	When my mother married in 1959 she was earning 70 cents an hour as a cashier.