salary

American  

[sal-uh-ree] / ˈsæl ə ri /

noun

plural

salaries

1. a fixed compensation periodically paid to a person for regular work or services.

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salary British  

/ ˈsælərɪ /

noun

1. a fixed regular payment made by an employer, often monthly, for professional or office work as opposed to manual work Compare wage

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verb

1. (tr) to pay a salary to

Usage

What is a salary? A salary is a fixed, regular payment in exchange for work. This is different from earning a fee that depends on how many hours you work (earning a fixed rate per hour) or how much work you do, sometimes called piecework. When you earn a salary, it is usually stated as the amount of money you will receive in one year for doing the work (before any taxes are paid). You will then be paid in equal amounts each pay period over the course of that year, even when you are on a paid vacation. How often you are paid will vary from company to company, with every other week and twice a month being most common. To salary someone is to pay them a salary. A salaried employee is someone who is paid a salary instead of paid another way, such as paid by the hour. Example: How can they expect me to live my best life when I’m paid on such a low salary?

Related Words

See pay ¹.

Other Word Forms

• salaryless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of salary

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English salarie, from Anglo-French, from Latin salārium “money given to soldiers to buy salt, salt money.” See sal, -ary

Compare meaning

How does salary compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• stipend vs. salary

Explanation

The pay or wages you earn for doing your job is called your salary. You might prefer your low-paying job to one with a higher salary because you have so much fun with your co-workers. Salary comes from the Latin word salarium, which also means "salary" and has the root sal, or "salt." In ancient Rome, it specifically meant the amount of money allotted to a Roman soldier to buy salt, which was an expensive but essential commodity. Today, salt is an inexpensive purchase at the grocery store, and your salary is certainly to be paid in your country's currency.

Example Sentences

I received a small weekly salary but the neat bonus was that I received a movie pass card that allowed me to see any of the films that were playing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Be clear about total compensation — base salary, bonuses and equity — alongside savings and retirement account info.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Carranza said filling empty positions will require better salary and training, and perhaps more pay bumps when new hires hit yearly milestones.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Hewson said this status, and the wealth of his other numerous firms, means while Musk does not receive a salary for his work at Tesla, "he can certainly bide his time".

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Penelope was sorry about it, but only because it meant her own meager salary nearly always went unpaid.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• earnings
• fee
• income
• pay
• payroll
• stipend
• wage