average earnings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "average earnings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the typical income or salary level of a group of people, often in economic or financial contexts. Example: "The average earnings of workers in the tech industry have increased significantly over the past few years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Average earnings in Camden are £33,000.

The Guardian - Opinion

A second example is average earnings.

The Guardian

Average earnings continue to lag behind inflation.

The Guardian - Business

Average earnings across all sectors are rising by 3.2%.

The Guardian

Over the same period, average earnings have risen by 1.5%.

The Guardian - Money

Average earnings have increased by 10% since 2007.

The Guardian

The average earnings you give for freelancers need clarification.

The New York Times

The average rent is 75% of average earnings.

The Guardian - Opinion

Total average earnings for NHS consultants were now £121,000.

The Guardian

Average earnings on the site are £22 per hour.

The Guardian - Money

A Reuters poll produced an average earnings forecast of £327m.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing "average earnings" across different groups, always specify the time period (e.g., monthly, annually) and currency to provide clear context.

Common error

Don't assume "average earnings" reflects the economic reality for everyone. It can be skewed by outliers, so consider using the median or providing income distribution data for a more nuanced picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "average earnings" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It's used to describe a typical income level for a group of people. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "average earnings" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a noun phrase and is used to convey information about typical income levels. It is suitable for various contexts, but most frequently appears in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. The phrase is considered neutral in register and provides a standard metric for comparing income data. When discussing "average earnings", it's crucial to provide context, specify time periods, and be aware of the potential for skewed data due to outliers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

average pay

A simpler and more direct way to refer to average earnings.

mean income

Focuses specifically on the statistical mean as a measure of central tendency for income.

average income level

Highlights the typical income range within a given population or group.

typical salary

Emphasizes the standard or most common salary within a particular profession or demographic.

median wage

Highlights the midpoint of wages, often used to mitigate the impact of outliers.

mean compensation

A more formal synonym emphasizing total remuneration.

average compensation

Encompasses all forms of payment and benefits received by employees on average.

standard earnings

Implies a generally accepted or regular level of income.

prevailing wage

Refers to the legally mandated minimum wage rate for specific types of work.

customary wage

Indicates a traditional or commonly observed wage rate.

FAQs

How to use "average earnings" in a sentence?

You can use "average earnings" to discuss economic trends, such as, "Average earnings have not kept pace with inflation in recent years", or to compare income levels across different demographics or regions.

What's the difference between "average earnings" and "median income"?

"Average earnings" (or mean income) is the sum of all earnings divided by the number of earners, while "median income" represents the midpoint of the income distribution. Median income is less susceptible to being skewed by extremely high or low earners.

Which is correct, "average earnings" or "average salary"?

Both are correct, but they may have slightly different connotations. "Average salary" typically refers to the earnings of salaried employees, while "average earnings" can encompass wages, salaries, and other forms of compensation for all workers.

What can I say instead of "average earnings"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "mean income", "typical salary", or "median wage".