One woman in her seventies is sharing a glimpse of what life was like for an American teenager entering the workforce at the tail end of the 1960s.
There’s just something fascinating about it because the wages were lower, the technology was different, and even basic workplace expectations were seemingly from another world.
In 1969, TikToker Shirley (@shirleygirl_joy) landed her first part-time job at the department store JCPenney, earning $1.65 an hour.
While that number might sound impossibly low by today’s standards, inflation tells a different story. According to inflation calculators, $1.65 in 1969 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $14.96 today.
Even so, Shirley recalls being excited whenever there was an opportunity to make a little extra money. Back then, the store was not open on Sundays.
She was in college and worked in the evenings from Monday to Saturday. Around Christmastime, the store decided to open on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. It was a big deal, and college students like herself were thrilled.
“If you worked a Sunday, you got time and a half, which was huge money then,” said Shirley. “I did always sign up, and it was a great job. I was hired there by a guy named Mr. Voltmer.”
At the time, she was only 17 years old and didn’t have a Social Security number yet. In those days, Social Security numbers were not assigned at birth, so Shirley had to apply for one.
Since she knew how to sew, she was placed in the yardage department at JCPenney. The department was massive and sold tons of fabric, sewing machines, and other sewing materials.
She ended up learning many useful tips from the older women who worked there. All in all, Shirley recalls that it was a great first job for $1.65 an hour.
Her story sparked a wave of nostalgia in the comments section, as many viewers shared memories of their own first jobs and paychecks.
“I was 16 in 1972. I got my first job working part-time in a hospital dietary department. I made $1.95 an hour. Now, unfortunately, the dollar doesn’t buy much. I feel sorry for the young people,” wrote one viewer.
“In 1969, I got my first job working for cash on a construction site next to our house. Two hours at 8 a.m. and two more late in the day—$5 cash daily! That was a lot of money for a 10-year-old! McDonald’s was .48 cents for a cheeseburger, fries, and Coke,” commented another.
“I worked in the New York Public Library, and minimum wage was $1.85 in 1972,” stated a third.
“When we were shredding all my grandmother’s documents after she passed away, we found out that when she got her first big girl job out of college in 1964, she was making $6,000 a year,” added a fourth.
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By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
