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What were the jobs of women in the 1920s?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on January 14, 2026

There were more job opportunities for women in the 1920s and 1930s due to better education. Many women found work as clerks, teachers and nurses. The nature of industries changed and new types of work emerged. Many women found work in the new light industries e.g. making electrical goods.

How did women’s work roles change during the 1920s?

How did women’s roles change during the 1920s? Women responded, joining men in speakeasies, increasing sexuality (shorter skirts, higher divorce rates, drinking, smoking, etc). Also, single women could live alone in apartments in cities and work for a living for the first time.

What are the highest paying jobs for females?

Check out the full list of jobs where women earn the most:

  • Registered nurses. Reza Estakhrian/Getty Images.
  • Market research analysts and marketing specialists.
  • Fundraisers.
  • Public relations specialists.
  • Compliance officers.
  • Computer systems analysts.
  • Physical therapists.
  • Education administrators.

What is a good trade for a woman?

The Best Trade Careers for Women

  1. Construction Technology. Today’s construction industry is an exciting and evolving sector.
  2. Construction Management.
  3. Electrical Technician.
  4. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technician.
  5. HVAC Professional.
  6. Industrial Maintenance Mechanic.
  7. Welder.

What is the highest paying job for females?

High-paying careers for women

  • Physical therapist.
  • Operations research analysts.
  • Software developers (applications and systems software)
  • Medical and health services manager.
  • Management analysts.
  • Physicians and surgeons.
  • Computer and information systems managers.
  • Civil engineers.

What is a good profession for a girl?

Nurse. Nursing is often considered as the “Women’s Profession” and has been a popular one for females.

What was the job of a woman in the 1920s?

Although it became a cliche for women to be secretaries after this time period, before the 1920s it was principally a job filled by men. As men were traditionally more educated to read and write fluently and were expected to be alone with other men a large part of the day it wasn’t thought to be women’s work.

How many black women worked outside the home in the 1920s?

In the United States in the 1920s, only about 15 percent of white and 30 percent of black married women with wage-earning husbands held paying jobs. Most Americans believed that women should not work outside the home if their husbands held jobs.

Why was the women’s Bureau created in 1920?

The Women’s Bureau, created in 1920 to advocate for women workers, was particularly concerned with publicizing the growing proportion of married women who were working.

What was the role of indoor plumbing in the 1920s?

Indoor plumbing brought water inside and introduced a new room to clean—the bathroom. In the United States in the 1920s, only about 15 percent of white and 30 percent of black married women with wage-earning husbands held paying jobs. Most Americans believed that women should not work outside the home if their husbands held jobs.