pay grade

American  

[pey greyd] / ˈpeɪ ˌgreɪd /

noun

1. the grade of a member of the armed services established according to a scale of increasing amounts of base pay and related to but not identical with official rank.

   A soldier in my pay grade had very little money.

2. a grade on any pay or salary scale.

   Advancement to a higher pay grade will depend on your job performance.

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idioms

1. be above / be beyond one's pay grade, to be above one’s level of ability, skill, knowledge, or authority: It’s beyond this court’s pay grade to alter the doctrine.

   To be honest, that subject is way above my pay grade.

   It’s beyond this court’s pay grade to alter the doctrine.

Etymology

Origin of pay grade

First recorded in 1880–85; originally a term in the U.S. armed forces

Example Sentences

Whether that’s achievable is above my pay grade.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 10, 2026

If a pleated edge feels above your pastry pay grade, simply fold the edge of the dough over the filling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

What exactly Cold Harbor is isn’t entirely clear yet, either, but we do know it’s a major MDR project with implications that are above the Innies’ pay grade.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2025

Proteas head coach Mandla Mashimbyi said the decision not to use DRS was above his "pay grade", but bemoaned the lack of communication around the "bizarre" decision which led to Dercksen's wicket.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2024

The profile listed my indent account balance, pay grade, blood type, current performance review rating—every scrap of data the company had on me.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline