marginal salary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginal salary" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used in discussions about compensation that is just above the minimum or baseline level, often in the context of economic or labor discussions. Example: "Many workers in the gig economy earn a marginal salary that barely covers their living expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Union of Professional Football Clubs, which represents the owners of France's 43 professional teams, announced that matches scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 30 would not be played to protest a government plan to require companies to pay a 75 percent marginal tax on salaries of more than one million euros, or $1.38 million.

The New York Times

Mr. Mankiw, who now advises Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, said that unlike Mr. Buffett and others who live on investment income taxed at 15 percent, millionaires typically pay the 35 percent marginal rate on their salaries, bonuses and business income.

The New York Times

Student loan repayments kick in at 9percentt marginal rate when graduates' salaries reach £21,000, so those on the upper end of that spectrum are paying back about 60p a day.

Vice

Compare Germany, where Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's new tax reforms have cut the marginal rate on a Euro50,000 salary to just 34%.

Forbes

First, the science: studies show that an increase in salary only offers marginal to zero increase in 'happiness' above a certain level".

BBC

However, remember that increasing your salary by a marginal percentage won't make you happier for long.

WikiHow

In the four years after the increase in top marginal rates in 1993, average salaries grew 18.7percentt among the top 1percentt of earners and less than 0.1percentt for the bottom 90percentt.

The New York Times

At a certain point, adding big names and salaries brings diminishing marginal returns.

Forbes

Aspects that need extra attention include how to handle shared resources, production capacity, marginal costs and the use of salaries and charges as proxies for opportunity costs.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

As state and local marginal tax rates rise, we can expect higher salaries to partially offset the higher taxes.

The New York Times

3. Why aren't bankers and traders required to have more skin in the game — that is, more of their own salary at risk — and not just a marginal part of one year's bonus?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Quantify the "marginal salary" with actual figures or comparisons to other salaries to give readers a clearer understanding of its value or lack thereof.

Common error

Avoid using "marginal salary" loosely. Instead of saying "Many people earn a marginal salary", specify the group or industry you're referring to, e.g., "Many gig workers earn a marginal salary that barely covers their expenses".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginal salary" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "marginal" modifies the noun "salary". It typically describes a salary that is at the lower end of the spectrum, close to the minimum or barely adequate, as also confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "marginal salary" is a grammatically correct term used to describe a low or barely sufficient wage. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, the absence of direct examples suggests that its usage may be somewhat infrequent. Alternative phrases such as "minimum wage" or "low pay" may be more commonly encountered. When using "marginal salary", provide context to ensure clarity and avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimum wage

Refers to the legally mandated lowest hourly wage.

subsistence wage

Emphasizes a salary that barely covers basic needs.

low pay

A general term for inadequate compensation.

meager salary

Highlights the inadequacy of the salary.

poverty wage

Suggests a salary that leaves the recipient in poverty.

entry-level salary

Describes the typical salary for someone just starting in a profession.

basic salary

The foundational, often lower, pay before any bonuses.

modest income

A polite way of saying the salary is limited.

small compensation

Highlights the limited nature of the payment received.

inadequate earnings

Focuses on the failure of the salary to meet needs.

FAQs

What does "marginal salary" mean?

A "marginal salary" typically refers to a wage that is just above the minimum requirement or barely sufficient to meet basic living expenses. It often implies a low or inadequate income.

What can I say instead of "marginal salary"?

You can use alternatives like "minimum wage", "subsistence wage", or "low pay" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "marginal salary" in formal writing?

Yes, "marginal salary" is grammatically correct and can be used in formal writing. However, consider whether a more precise term like "entry-level salary" or "basic salary" might be more appropriate.

How does "marginal salary" compare to "average salary"?

"Marginal salary" refers to a low or barely sufficient wage, while "average salary" represents the typical or mean salary for a particular job or industry. The two terms describe very different positions on the compensation scale.