I think inflation calculators are often crazy. My father was a detective with the Houston police department in 1958, and his gross pay was right at $172/month.

I know this because my mother just told me about graduating from secretarial school in 1956, having to buy a similar typewriter (financed it for 3 years at about $2.55/month), and here and dad talking about the money…

In real money, I think these would be something like $3k today.

She still has hers.