chief wage earner

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chief wage earner" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the person in a household or family who earns the most money or is primarily responsible for financial support. Example: "In many families, the chief wage earner often feels the pressure to provide for their loved ones."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

She was his personal manager and musical consultant, at times the family's chief wage earner, and mother to their children, Thelonious Jr. and Barbara.

The New York Times - Arts

Montana ranks lowest among the states in average wages, 47th in per capita income and, Mr. O'Keefe said, first in the percentage of families in which the chief wage earner holds at least two jobs.

The New York Times

The confusion has resulted in many families broken up over a drunken-driving or petty drug conviction, immigration experts say, accompanied by the added costs to society of families suddenly deprived of their chief wage earner.

The Washington Post

People who were not working were classified according to the chief wage earner in the household.

Age and Ageing

For people who were not working, the chief wage earner in the household's occupational status was used.

BMC Cancer

The occupational status of the household's chief wage earner was used to assess SES if the respondent was not working.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

According to a 2008 survey by the Centre for Good Governance, 87.6% of the slum-dwelling households are nuclear families, 18% are very poor, with an income up to per annum, 73% live below the poverty line (a standard poverty line recognised by the Andhra Pradesh Government is per annum), 27% of the chief wage earners (CWE) are casual labour and 38% of the CWE are illiterate.

Wikipedia

One of the unremarked-upon factoids in recent political history is that the last two Democratic presidents both had their careers underwritten by lawyer spouses who served as the chief family wage-earners.

The New York Times

Helping the average wage earner?

The Guardian

Muath, the only wage earner, agreed.

The New York Times

Muath, the only wage earner in his family, agreed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about economic or social issues, use the phrase "chief wage earner" to clearly identify the individual who contributes the most to a household's income. This term is useful in statistical analysis and demographic studies.

Common error

Avoid using "chief wage earner" when the income is primarily from a fixed salary. Reserve this term for situations where income might fluctuate or derive from multiple sources. For a fixed salary, consider "chief income earner" or "primary salary earner".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chief wage earner" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to identify the person who is the main source of income for a household. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to describe the individual primarily responsible for a family's financial support.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "chief wage earner" is a noun phrase designating the primary financial provider in a household. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and notes its usage in identifying key economic roles within families. While "chief wage earner" isn't overly common, it appears regularly in news, scientific and wiki sources. To enhance clarity and precision, related terms such as "main breadwinner" or "primary income provider" can serve as alternatives. Remember to reserve the term for individuals with variable income sources rather than fixed salaries, and consider gender-neutral alternatives in modern contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main breadwinner

Replaces "wage earner" with "breadwinner", a more colloquial term for the same role.

primary income provider

Substitutes "chief" with "primary" and "wage earner" with the more descriptive "income provider".

principal earner

Uses "principal" instead of "chief", maintaining a formal tone.

main source of income

Focuses on the role as the "source of income" rather than the person.

head of household income

Refers to the person contributing the most income within the context of the "head of household".

family's primary financial support

Emphasizes the role of providing financial support to the family.

household's main financial contributor

Highlights the act of contributing financially to the household.

key income generator

Replaces the human element with the function of generating income.

leading financial provider

Similar to "primary income provider" but with slightly different word choices.

the major breadwinner

Adds "the" for a slightly different emphasis and sentence structure.

FAQs

What does "chief wage earner" mean?

The term "chief wage earner" refers to the individual within a household or family who earns the most income and is primarily responsible for its financial support.

What are some alternatives to "chief wage earner"?

You can use alternatives such as "main breadwinner", "primary income provider", or "principal earner" depending on the context.

How is the phrase "chief wage earner" used in socioeconomic studies?

In socioeconomic studies, "chief wage earner" is often used to classify households based on the occupation and income of the primary financial provider, influencing socioeconomic indexes and analyses.

Is it appropriate to use "chief wage earner" in all contexts?

While generally acceptable, consider the context. In modern discussions, terms like "primary income provider" may be preferred as they are more gender-neutral. "Main breadwinner" can also be used in more informal settings.