Workers could be paid using two different minimum wage scales - time rates (i.e. a standard sum per hour) or piece rates (i.e. for the number of items produced).

Time rates varied according to age and experience. The rates reproduced below are the top rates given to men over 21/22 and women over 18. Workers under those ages were subject to lower minimum rates of pay. In 1918/9 the Trade Board's standard working week for tin box workers was reduced from 52 hours to 48 hours.

Minimum time rates:

Female workers aged 18 and over:

From 29 Nov 1915: 14 shillings & 1 penny a week (52 hours) = £36, 12 shillings & 4 pence a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 1 Mar 1917: 16 shillings & 3 pence a week (52 hours) = £42 & 5 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 8 Oct 1917: 19 shillings & 6 pence a week (52 hours) = £50 & 14 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 13 Dec 1918: £1, 3 shillings & 10 pence a week (52 hours) = £61, 19 shillings and 4 pence a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 3 Nov 1919: £1 & 10 shillings a week (48 hours) = 7 ½ pence an hour; £78 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 17 Jun 1920: £1 & 16 shillings a week (48 hours) = 9 pence an hour; £93 & 12 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 21 Nov 1921: £1 & 12 shillings a week (48 hours) = 8 pence an hour; £83 & 4 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

Male workers:

All male workers aged 21 and over:

From 29 Nov 1915: £1 & 6 shillings a week (52 hours) = 6 pence an hour; £67 & 12 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

All male workers aged 22 and over:

From 1 Mar 1917: £1, 10 shillings & 4 pence a week (52 hours) = 7 pence an hour; £78, 17 shillings & 4 pence a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 8 Oct 1917: £1, 14 shillings & 8 pence a week (52 hours) = 8 pence an hour; £90, 2 shillings & 8 pence a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 13 Dec 1918: £1 & 19 shillings a week (52 hours) = 9 pence an hour; £101 & 8 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

Knife hands or press hands aged 21 and over:

From 3 Nov 1919: £2 & 16 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 2 pence an hour; £145 & 12 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 17 Jun 1920: £3 & 8 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 5 pence an hour; £176 & 16 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 21 Nov 1921: £3 & 4 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 4 pence an hour; £166 & 8 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

All other male workers aged 21 and over:

From 3 Nov 1919: £2 & 8 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling an hour; £124 & 16 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 17 Jun 1920: £3 a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 3 pence an hour; £156 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 21 Nov 1921: £2 & 16 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 2 pence an hour; £145 & 12 shillings a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

Piece work basis time rate:

Piece rates were set on the basis that "a worker of ordinary skill and experience" would be able to make the following sum:

Female workers aged 18 and over:

From 3 Nov 1919: £1 17 shillings & six pence a week (48 hours) = £97 10s a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 17 Jun 1920: £2 & 5 shillings a week (48 hours) = 11 ¼ pence an hour; £117 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 21 Nov 1921: £2 a week (48 hours) = 10 pence an hour; £104 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

Male workers age 21 and over:

Knife hands or press hands:

From 3 Nov 1919: £3 & 10 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 5 ½ pence an hour; £182 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 17 Jun 1920: £4 & 5 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 9 ¼ pence an hour; £221 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 21 Nov 1921: £4 a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 8 pence an hour; £208 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

All other male workers:

From 3 Nov 1919: £3 a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 3 pence an hour; £156 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 17 Jun 1920: £3 & 15 shillings a week (48 hours) = £195 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)

From 21 Nov 1921: £3 & 10 shillings a week (48 hours) = 1 shilling & 5 ½ pence an hour; £182 a year (if all 52 weeks a year were worked)