What does salaried mean?
Salaried means receiving a fixed and regular payment for work. The word is especially common in employment notices, contracts, and workplace discussions, where it distinguishes employees who receive a predetermined amount from workers paid by the hour, by commission, or according to completed assignments. A salaried employee may have benefits such as paid leave, and the payment may be made weekly, monthly, or annually. The term does not inherently mean that the employee earns a high salary or holds an important position: many ordinary jobs are salaried, while some highly paid workers are paid through commissions, bonuses, or freelance fees. In British and American English, salaried can describe a person, a job, a position, or staff as a group.
adjectiveReceiving a fixed regular payment for one’s work, usually calculated over a defined period such as a month or year. It contrasts with payment based on hourly work, commissions, or the results of individual transactions.
- Receiving a fixed regular payment for work, rather than being paid by the hour, through commissions, or only when particular sales are made.
"After several years as a salaried employee, she was promoted to a management position."
"The company offers a salaried position with annual leave and other benefits."
"Although she was salaried, her income varied because part of her compensation depended on sales."
A salaried job is defined by the reliability of its pay, not necessarily by the size of the pay cheque.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of salaried
Salaried derives from salary, which comes through French salaire from the Latin salarium, a term associated with salt and the supplies provided to Roman soldiers. The modern sense of a regular payment for services developed from that historical association with provisions or allowances. Salaried became established in the English language during the 19th century, alongside the expanding practice of regular paid employment.
How salaried is actually used
Salaried is common in employment and workplace contexts in both British and American English. It generally contrasts with hourly, casual, commission-based, or unpaid work; it does not necessarily imply a high income or managerial status.
Easily confused with salaried
Salary is the regular payment itself, while salaried describes a person, job, or arrangement that receives such payment.
A salaried worker receives regular pay from an employer, whereas a self-employed person works independently and does not receive a salary.