How much did a medieval woman earn?

Answer 1

The sources I have are inconsistent on this. The Medieval Sourcebook indicates 5 pence per day for weavers, most of whom were women, and 3 to 4 pence for master carpenters and masons, nearly all of whom were men. On the other hand, the source on working women indicates that women made about half as much as men, which is much easier to believe. My bet is that women earned one to two pence per day, on average, when the rent on a cottage was about 5 pence per month, and a penny would buy two dozen eggs. See links to the sources below.