meager salary

USAGE SUMMARY

'meager salary' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an expression used to describe a salary that is very low or insufficient for the needs of the employee. For example, "Although she had worked at this company for several years, she had to leave because her meager salary was not enough to pay her rent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

He chuckled at the figure, recalling his meager salary.

The New York Times

Why is someone with such a meager salary squandering it on a nose job?

The New York Times - Magazine

He would pay for the skates, a hot dog and milkshake on his meager salary.

The New York Times

But with seven children to provide for on a meager salary, he struggles to make ends meet.

The Washington Post

My wife began working, but her meager salary as a teacher was barely enough to cover day care costs.

The Guardian - Opinion

For whom? First, they give up Ted Lilly's meager salary of $237,150 for Weaver's $2.35 million.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Yet this was a group of mostly young progressives drawing meager salaries who had no ties to corporate America.

The New York Times - Magazine

The cost can be especially burdensome for teachers who make meager salaries and live paycheck to paycheck.

The Washington Post

Members of the Yankees support staff, who depended on playoff bonuses to augment meager salaries, would rave about Giambi taking up their cause.

The New York Times - Sports

Now, local industry having died out, the population has thinned, and the House has trouble mustering even the most meager salaries for a skeletal staff.

The New York Times - Arts

He and his wife, Jessie Kaufman, were searching for a place where they could afford to live on the meager salaries of an artist and a social worker.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's financial struggles, using the phrase "meager salary" effectively conveys the idea that their income is barely sufficient to cover their basic needs. It emphasizes the difficulty they face due to low earnings.

Common error

While "meager salary" is widely understood, avoid using it excessively in highly formal or business documents. Opt for more professional alternatives like "modest compensation" or "limited remuneration" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager salary" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "meager" modifies the noun "salary". According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and frequently used expression. The phrase typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the financial condition of an individual or group.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

18%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meager salary" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes a very low income. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in professional settings. Its purpose is to convey financial hardship and evoke sympathy, and while widely understood, overuse in formal contexts should be avoided. Related phrases include "low income" and "insufficient pay", offering nuanced ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

low income

Focuses on the general lack of income, rather than specifically referencing a salary.

small wage

Replaces "salary" with "wage", which often implies hourly pay, and "meager" with "small".

insufficient pay

Emphasizes the inadequacy of the pay, using a more formal tone.

paltry compensation

Uses more formal synonyms for both "meager" and "salary", making it suitable for formal contexts.

inadequate earnings

Shifts the focus to earnings, which can include more than just a salary, and uses "inadequate" to describe the amount.

limited income

Similar to "low income", but emphasizes the restriction or constraint on the income.

scant remuneration

Replaces "meager" with "scant" and "salary" with "remuneration", resulting in a more formal expression.

poor compensation

Uses a simpler and more direct way to express the low quality of the compensation.

minimal earnings

Focuses on the minimal amount of earnings, which can be from various sources.

tight budget

Instead of focusing on the salary, this describes the financial situation that results from it.

FAQs

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

You can use "meager salary" to describe a situation where someone is struggling financially due to low earnings. For instance, "Despite working long hours, she found it difficult to make ends meet on her meager salary."

What are some alternatives to "meager salary"?

Some alternatives include "low income", "small wage", or "insufficient pay", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "meager salary" in a formal setting?

While understandable, "meager salary" might be too informal for certain formal settings. Consider using alternatives like "modest compensation" or "limited remuneration" in such cases.

What is the difference between "meager salary" and "low salary"?

"Meager salary" emphasizes that the salary is not only low but also barely enough to live on. "Low salary" is a more general term indicating that the salary is below average or expected for the position or industry.