low pay

USAGE SUMMARY

"low pay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to inadequate or insufficient wages or salaries. For example, "Many workers receive low pay and lack basic benefits like healthcare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Low pay.

The Telegraph

Low pay disproportionally hurts women.

Independent

Tackling low pay.

The Guardian

(Small budgets, low pay, poor welfare).

The Economist

Low pay discourages well-educated recruits.

The Economist

Low pay is particularly problematic.

The New York Times

Perhaps equality of low pay?

The Guardian

It's all about low pay.

The Guardian

It offers very low pay.

The Guardian

Permanent low pay may be the future.

The Guardian - Opinion

Low pay is often a factor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use statistics to illustrate the prevalence and effects of "low pay" in a given sector or demographic. For example, "Studies show that women are disproportionately affected by low pay in the service industry."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "low pay" is always justified by a lack of experience. While entry-level positions may start with lower wages, prolonged "low pay" can indicate exploitation or undervaluation, regardless of experience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "low pay" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It often acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a condition or problem related to compensation. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "low pay" is a prevalent term used to describe inadequate compensation, commonly appearing in discussions about economic inequality and labor rights. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media. To enhance clarity, specify the industry, region, or job type when discussing "low pay". Be aware that confusing "low pay" with a lack of experience can be misleading, as prolonged "low pay" can indicate exploitation. Related terms include "meager salary" and "poverty wages", each with slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poverty wages

Highlights that the pay is so low it keeps people in poverty.

poor compensation

General term for unsatisfying retribution.

meager salary

Emphasizes the smallness or inadequacy of the salary.

inadequate income

Focuses on the income being insufficient to meet needs.

insufficient remuneration

A more formal way to describe pay that is not enough.

deficient salary

Stresses the lack of money in the salary.

small earnings

A straightforward way of describing reduced profits.

substandard compensation

Suggests that the level of pay is below what is expected or acceptable.

exploitative wages

Emphasizes unfairness and the possible abuse of labor.

minimum wage

Describes the lowest legal hourly compensation that employers may pay.

FAQs

What are the consequences of "low pay" for workers?

"Low pay" can lead to financial instability, difficulty meeting basic needs, increased stress, and reduced opportunities for career advancement. It also contributes to economic inequality and can perpetuate cycles of poverty.

How does minimum wage relate to "low pay"?

Minimum wage is the legally mandated lowest hourly wage that employers can pay. While it aims to prevent "low pay", many argue that the minimum wage is still insufficient to cover the cost of living in many areas.

What are some ways to address the issue of "low pay"?

Possible solutions include raising the minimum wage, implementing living wage policies, promoting unionization, providing access to affordable childcare and healthcare, and investing in education and job training programs.

What can I say instead of "low pay"?

You can use alternatives like "meager salary", "poverty wages", or "insufficient remuneration" depending on the context.