average salary

USAGE SUMMARY

"average salary" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence such as, "The average salary for teachers in this area is $40,000 per year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The average salary will go down.

The Economist

The average salary: $50,000.

The New York Times

EARNINGS Average salary in 2010 was $59,370.

The New York Times

The average salary was $86,500.

The New York Times

The average salary shown is the mean.

The Guardian - Money

The average salary is £26,500.

The Guardian - Opinion

The average salary was $19,000.

The New York Times - Sports

That's an average salary of $15.8 million.

The Washington Post

What is the average salary for a paralegal?

University of California, Berkeley

The average salary in Ukraine is around $500 a month.

The Guardian

His average salary was between $25,000 and $30,000.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing salaries, specify the currency (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP) to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of just stating "the average salary is $50,000", clarify it as "the average salary is USD 50,000".

Common error

Avoid using "average salary" when you actually mean median salary. The average (mean) can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries, whereas the median provides a more accurate representation of the typical salary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "average salary" functions primarily as a noun phrase that identifies a statistical measure of typical earnings. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. The numerous examples provided confirm its role in describing financial compensation in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "average salary" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe the typical earnings for a job or profession. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its frequency across various sources, particularly in News & Media and Academia, indicates its widespread use. When using the term, it's crucial to specify the currency and be mindful of the difference between average and median salaries. Remember to provide context and source information for accuracy. Alternative phrases, such as "mean compensation" or "typical earnings", can be used to add variety while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mean compensation

Replaces "salary" with "compensation" and "average" with "mean", emphasizing all forms of payment.

average annual income

Adds "annual" to specify the earnings received over a year.

typical earnings

Substitutes "average" with "typical" and "salary" with "earnings", focusing on the usual amount earned.

median income

Uses "median" instead of "average" and "income" instead of "salary", representing the midpoint of earnings.

prevailing wage

Emphasizes the standard rate of pay for a specific occupation in a particular area.

usual remuneration

Replaces "average" with "usual" and "salary" with the more formal "remuneration".

standard pay

Focuses on the established or agreed-upon rate of pay.

common wage

Highlights the wage that is most frequently received.

expected salary

Shifts the focus to what an individual anticipates earning, rather than the actual average.

approximate wage

Indicates an estimated or near value of earnings.

FAQs

How do I accurately report the "average salary" for a specific job?

To accurately report the "average salary", specify the job title, location, and data source (e.g., Bureau of Labor Statistics). Also, indicate the year for which the salary is reported to ensure the information is current and relevant.

What is the difference between "average salary" and "median salary"?

The "average salary" is calculated by summing all salaries and dividing by the number of employees. The "median salary" is the middle value when salaries are ordered from lowest to highest. The median is less affected by extremely high or low salaries.

What factors influence the "average salary" for a particular profession?

Several factors influence the "average salary", including education, experience, location, industry, company size, and job performance. Higher education, more experience, and specialized skills typically lead to higher salaries.

Where can I find reliable data on "average salary" information?

Reliable data on "average salary" can be found on websites such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Payscale, Salary.com, and Glassdoor. These sources collect and analyze salary data from various industries and professions.