Difference between Wages and Salary | Salary vs Wages

What is the Difference between Wages and Salary

The term ‘salary’ and ‘wages’ are generally used interchangeably. However, they do have their distinct differences, which we shall explore in this article.

Table of Contents

• Table Summarising the Difference between Wages and Salary
• The Meanings of Salary and Wages
• Examples for Wages and Salary
• Salary vs. Wages – Conclusion

In English grammar, the term ‘wage’ is most commonly used as a noun, where it refers to a payment that is paid regularly in exchange for services or work. ‘Wage’ can also be used as a verb, where it refers to carrying on a campaign or a war (e.g., ‘wage a war’). On the other hand, the word ‘salary’ is used as a noun, and it refers to a fixed monthly payment in lieu of services provided by an employee to the organisation and it is usually expressed as an annual sum. Salaries are generally paid to white-collar workers while wages are paid to blue-collar workers. The difference between wages and salary can be better understood by reading the summary below.

Table Summarising the Difference between Wages and Salary

The Meanings of Wages and Salary

As summarised in the table above, wages and salary have different meanings.

• ‘Wages’ meaning –
  • As a noun: Wage refers to a payment made to a blue-collar worker on a daily or weekly basis.
  • As a verb: Wage is an action that describes instigating or carrying on a war or a military campaign.
• ‘Salary’ meaning – The term ‘salary’ is used as a noun and it refers to a payment made to a white-collar worker by an employer – generally on a monthly basis. Another difference between wages and salary is that the latter is expressed as an annual sum.

Examples for Salary and Wages

We shall explore some examples related to these two words:

• Wages:
  • Noun: His wages are barely enough to feed a family of five.
  • Verb: The armistice treaty destroyed their capacity to wage war.
• Salary
  • Example 1: He was happy with his first salary.
  • Example 2: Salary is usually dictated by the level of skills or education a person is equipped with.

Wages vs. Salary – Conclusion

Learning English grammar is very important for students and working professionals. It is also needed to communicate and articulate effectively. In this article, we have explored the difference between wages and salary, discovered their usage as well as cited various examples to understand the proper usage of these words. To learn other important English ‘Difference Between’ topics, register with BYJU’S English.