Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

salary

/ˈsæl.ər.i/
noun★Intermediate— fixed regular payment
💼Business
formal

A fixed regular payment earned for work or services, typically paid monthly or biweekly.

The company offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

This means the pay and additional perks are attractive compared to other employers.

His salary was increased by 5% after the performance review.

This means his fixed payment for work went up by 5% due to his evaluation.

💡

Salary is distinct from wages, which are often paid hourly or daily. Salary is usually associated with professional or white-collar jobs.

Collocations

base salarythe minimum fixed payment without bonuses or allowancesannual salarytotal fixed payment received in one yeargross salarytotal payment before taxes and deductionsnet salarypayment received after taxes and deductionsdraw a salaryto receive a fixed payment for work

Synonyms

wagepayremunerationcompensationincome

Antonyms

expensecostloss

💡Pro Tip

Salary vs. Wage

Remember: Salary is fixed and paid regularly (e.g., monthly), while wages are often paid hourly or daily and can vary. Salary is common for white-collar jobs, whereas wages are typical for blue-collar or part-time work.

⚡Gold Rule

Fixed Payment

A salary is a fixed amount agreed upon in advance, not dependent on hours worked (unlike wages).

Regular Intervals

Salaries are usually paid at regular intervals, such as monthly or biweekly, regardless of the number of hours worked.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'salarye', from Old French 'salaire', from Latin 'salarium' (salt money, stipend), originally an allowance of salt given to Roman soldiers as part of their pay. From 'sal' (salt).

📝Usage Notes

Salary is typically used for professional or office-based jobs, while 'wage' is more common for hourly or manual labor. In contracts, salary often implies a fixed amount paid regularly (e.g., monthly), whereas wages may vary based on hours worked.

Word Breakdown

salary
fixed regular payment for work
root
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.