lowest salary

USAGE SUMMARY

"lowest salary" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to the minimum wage or a salary range. For example: "Employers are obligated to pay the lowest salary at the accepted minimum wage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Huston Street, Oakland's closer, has the team's lowest salary, $339,625.

The New York Times

Hope earned $950,000, the lowest salary in the Big Ten.

The New York Times - Sports

I do this for eight years, and I still get the lowest salary in New York City".

The New York Times

Before the use of dollars was made legal in 1993, the ratio between the highest and lowest salary was just five to one.

The Economist

Bob Boone, who had managed Kansas City, accepted the $650,000 offer, the lowest salary in the majors, and said, "I don't do anything in this game for money".

The New York Times - Sports

Tampa finished with the lowest salary to cost of living score in our 40-city study.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

On this form Super League's lowest salary-cap spenders will go into Magic Weekend confident of taking another major scalp when they play Catalans.

The Guardian - Sport

More troubling is the risk run by the employees with the lowest salaries.

The New York Times

To do that, he pays his staff some of the lowest salaries on Capitol Hill.

The New York Times - Magazine

The WTO's top man has one of the lowest salaries among international bureaucrats.

The Economist

They had the highest cost of living, lowest salaries, least job growth and least affordable housing.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing salaries across different regions or countries, adjust for cost of living to provide a more accurate representation of purchasing power.

Common error

Avoid using "lowest salary" interchangeably with minimum wage. Minimum wage is a legally mandated minimum, while "lowest salary" refers to the actual lowest compensation paid in a specific context, which may be above the minimum wage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lowest salary" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the minimum compensation within a specific context, such as a company, industry, or region. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Opinion

8%

Science & Research

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lowest salary" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that denotes the minimum compensation in a given situation. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and acceptability for use in writing. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and business contexts, it serves to describe, compare, and analyze compensation levels. When using this term, be mindful of its distinction from the "minimum wage", and always consider the cost of living when making comparisons. "Lowest salary" effectively communicates the bottom end of the pay scale and is thus a valuable term for discussing economic and labor-related issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimum wage

Refers specifically to the legally mandated lowest hourly wage an employer can pay.

entry-level salary

Describes the typical starting salary for a position requiring little to no prior experience.

starting salary

Similar to entry-level salary, but applicable to any new position, not just the first job.

lowest pay scale

Emphasizes the relative position within a structured compensation system.

bottom of the pay range

Focuses on the position at the bottom end of a defined salary band.

poverty wage

Highlights the inadequacy of the salary to meet basic needs.

minimum compensation

Broader term including salary and other benefits, at the lowest level.

base pay floor

Technical term referring to the minimum guaranteed salary before bonuses or commissions.

lowest income bracket

Describes a salary that places an individual within the lowest category for taxation purposes.

subsistence wage

A wage that provides only the bare necessities for survival.

FAQs

How can I use "lowest salary" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company's "lowest salary" for entry-level positions is $30,000 per year" or "Compared to other countries, Ugandan doctors receive the "lowest salary"".

What's a good alternative to "lowest salary"?

Depending on the context, you could use terms like "minimum wage", "entry-level salary", or "starting salary".

Is it correct to say "the most lowest salary"?

No, it's redundant. "Lowest" already implies the superlative degree. The correct phrase is "lowest salary".

What factors contribute to a "lowest salary" in a particular field or region?

Factors can include the supply and demand of labor, the cost of living, the level of education or skills required, and government regulations such as minimum wage laws.