Vocabulary
B1–B2
5 min read
Updated 13 June 2026
Quick answer: A salary is a fixed amount paid regularly (monthly or annually), regardless of hours worked: She earns a high salary as a doctor. A wage is pay calculated by the hour or day: The minimum wage has increased.
Comparison Table
| Word | How it’s calculated | Typical jobs | Example |
|---|
| salary | fixed monthly / annual amount | professional, managerial, office | She earns a high salary as a doctor. |
| wage | hourly or daily rate | manual, trade, part-time, retail | The minimum wage has increased. |
Using Salary
A salary is a fixed sum paid to an employee at regular intervals — usually monthly — regardless of the number of hours worked. It is expressed as an annual figure: “a salary of £40,000 per year.”
She earns a high salary as a doctor.
They offered me a starting salary of £28,000.
He asked for a salary review after two years.
Common collocations: annual salary, basic salary, competitive salary, salary package, salary increase, salary review, draw a salary.
Using Wage
A wage (often used in the plural: wages) is pay calculated on an hourly or daily basis. Wage earners may receive overtime pay for extra hours worked.
The minimum wage has increased this year.
He earns an hourly wage of £12.
Wages at that factory are paid every Friday.
Common collocations: minimum wage, living wage, hourly wage, weekly wages, wage rise, wage gap, wage cut, earn a wage.
Memory Trick
Memory Tip
Salary = Stable (the same amount every month). Wage = Watch the clock (paid by the hour). If your pay stays the same no matter how many hours you work, it’s a salary. If you earn more by working extra hours, it’s a wage.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Saying minimum salary instead of minimum wage
✗ The government raised the minimum salary.
✓ The government raised the minimum wage.
(Minimum wage is the fixed legal and economic term.)
Mistake 2 — Using salary for hourly work
✗ She earns a good salary working 20 hours a week at the supermarket.
✓ She earns a good hourly wage working at the supermarket.
Mistake 3 — Treating wage as always plural
✗ His hourly wages are £15. (unnatural for a single rate)
✓ His hourly wage is £15. (use singular for a specific rate)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between salary and wage?
A salary is a fixed amount of money paid regularly (usually monthly or annually), regardless of hours worked: "She earns a high salary as a doctor." A wage is pay calculated on an hourly or daily basis: "The minimum wage has increased." Salaried workers typically receive the same amount each pay period; wage earners are paid for hours or days worked.
When should I use salary?
Use salary for professional or managerial roles where pay is a fixed annual or monthly amount. Examples: "Her salary is £45,000 per year." "They offered me a competitive salary." "He negotiated a salary increase." Salary workers are usually paid monthly and are not paid extra for overtime.
When should I use wage?
Use wage (often plural: wages) for hourly or daily pay, commonly in manual, trade, or part-time work. Examples: "The minimum wage has increased to £11.44 per hour." "She earns good wages working at the factory." "Wages are paid weekly." Wage earners may receive overtime pay for extra hours.
Is it correct to say 'minimum salary'?
The standard phrase is minimum wage, not minimum salary. Minimum wage refers to the legally required minimum hourly pay rate. You might say "minimum salary" informally in a job context (e.g., "the minimum salary for this role is £30,000"), but minimum wage is the standard legal and economic term.
What is a living wage?
A living wage is the minimum hourly rate considered sufficient to meet basic living needs (food, housing, transport). It differs from the minimum wage, which is the legal minimum, and is often higher. It is always called a living wage, not a living salary.
Can I use wages to talk about a salary?
Wages can be used informally to mean any earnings: "What are your wages like at that company?" However, in formal contexts, use salary for fixed professional pay and wages for hourly/daily pay. Using wages for a senior professional's salary may sound informal or slightly off.
How do I use salary in a sentence?
Examples: "She earns a high salary as a doctor." "They offered a starting salary of £28,000." "My salary is paid directly into my bank account." "He asked for a salary review after two years." Salary is always singular: "my salary", not "my salaries".
How do I use wage in a sentence?
Examples: "The minimum wage has increased this year." "He earns an hourly wage of £12." "Wages at that factory are paid every Friday." "She works for a low wage and struggles to pay rent." Wage can be singular or plural (wages).
What are common collocations with salary?
Common collocations: annual salary, basic salary, starting salary, salary increase, salary package, salary review, competitive salary, draw a salary, negotiate a salary. Example: "The job offers a competitive salary plus benefits."
What are common collocations with wage?
Common collocations: minimum wage, living wage, hourly wage, weekly wage, wage rise, wage cut, wage gap, earn a wage, pay someone a wage. Example: "The government raised the minimum wage for the first time in three years."