respectable income

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "respectable income" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an income which is sufficient to support a comfortable lifestyle. For example, "He was able to support his family with a respectable income from his job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It is a respectable income, but hardly enough to attract a bride in Beijing.

The New York Times

Here in Germany, the only adults populating playgrounds on any day of the week appeared to be mothers — often mothers with a university education who not long ago earned a respectable income.

The New York Times

What this group around the table clearly demonstrated is that having a brilliant career, a respectable income and Very Good Hair doesn't insulate a mother from perennial work-life balance issues.

The New York Times

Each month Mr. Kuan earns 7,000 patacas, as the Macanese currency is called, or $876 — a respectable income by local standards, but it does not go very far.

The New York Times

By the time "The White Peacock" appeared, in early 1911, Lawrence had a sore heart but a well-launched career as a novelist, a respectable income as a primary-school teacher, and a beautiful, if conventional, fiancée in a fellow-instructor, Louise Burrows.

The New Yorker

The podcast has brought us Radio Academy Awards, radio and TV jobs, a global audience, a book adaptation and a respectable income stream – all because, from the comfort of a living room in suburban London, we choose to put microphones in front of our faces as a hobby.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In "Bobos in Paradise, David Brookss articulated the phenomenon of the bourgeois bohemians, a class that merges respectable incomes with countercultural attitudes.

The New York Times

They made respectable incomes, but not mega profits.

Huffington Post

A Confucian-based education was also made available at commandery-level schools and private schools opened in small towns, where teachers earned respectable incomes from tuition payments.

Wikipedia

Businesses which can support a small shop in a major metropolis with physical trade can support many times the volume in a world market, and businesses too small to exist in physical space will provide respectable jobs and incomes in cyberspace.Initially these businesses will depend upon postal services for fulfilment and pay a significant premium for it.

The Economist

But he could live a respectable life because his income derived from tithe rather than trade; eventually, he might even achieve some measure of political power by becoming, say, a justice of the peace.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with qualifying local standards (e.g. "a respectable income by local standards") to provide necessary economic context, as what is respectable varies by geography.

Common error

Do not use "respected income" if your intention is to describe the amount of money. A "respected" income implies that the work itself is highly honored by society, whereas "respectable" describes the quantity or status of the income itself.

Linguistic Context

In a sentence, "respectable income" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a direct object or a subject complement. According to Ludwig AI, the adjective "respectable" serves to quantify the noun "income" by placing it within a socially acceptable or middle-class bracket. It is often used after verbs like "earn", "generate" or "provide".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "respectable income" is a highly effective and correct colocation in English. Ludwig AI confirms its presence in prestigious news and business outlets, where it is used to describe a level of earnings that is socially acceptable and sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle. It is distinguished from terms like "livable wage" by its association with middle-class standards rather than mere survival. When writing, it is best used in professional or neutral contexts to characterize financial success with a degree of modesty and social context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comfortable earnings

Emphasizes the ease of life provided by the money rather than just social standing.

decent salary

Slightly less formal and more commonly used when referring to monthly employment pay.

solid remuneration

More formal and typically used in professional or HR-related contexts.

adequate pay

Implies the amount is sufficient but perhaps suggests it is closer to the minimum requirement.

fair compensation

Adds a layer of ethical or equitable valuation to the amount earned.

substantial revenue

Better suited for business entities or freelancers with high turnover.

modest living

Shifts focus from the specific income amount to the resulting lifestyle.

stable income

Focuses on the reliability and consistency of the money rather than the total amount.

livable wage

Focuses on the basic ability to meet costs of living, often in a social justice context.

handsome profit

Emphasizes a generous margin, usually in a transactional or investment context.

FAQs

How to use "respectable income" in a sentence?

You can use it to qualify someone's financial status, for example: "He managed to build a "respectable income" through freelance writing".

What can I say instead of "respectable income"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "decent salary", "comfortable earnings", or "solid remuneration".

Is "respectable income" considered formal English?

Yes, it is a neutral to professional phrase frequently found in publications like The New York Times and The Economist. It is perfectly suitable for business reports and formal essays.

What is the difference between "respectable income" and "livable wage"?

A "livable wage" refers to the minimum needed to survive, while a "respectable income" usually implies a higher level of comfort and social standing.