base pay

American  

noun

1. pay received for a given work period, as an hour or week, but not including additional pay, as for overtime work.

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Etymology

Origin of base pay

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

U.S. employees will receive severance of 16 weeks of base pay, plus two additional weeks for every year they have been with the company, Gale added.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Affected staff will receive 16 weeks of base pay plus two weeks per year of service.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

In South Korea, an auto worker’s hourly wages, including base pay and bonuses, could range from $20 to $30.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The union is pushing for base pay increases and the restoration of cut programs.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

Between the base pay of $2.15 an hour and the obligation to share tips with the busboys and dishwashers, we’re averaging only about $7.50 an hour.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich