pay grade
noun
: a level of compensation for work especially when understood to reflect responsibility and authority
"People listen to you regardless of your pay grade," a Goldman managing director told me. "There is a real respect for the individual voice."—
John Cassidy
—often used figurativelyJohn CassidyThe unanswerable questions ascend into the skies, far above your pay grade, whatever it may be.—Robert W. Lucky
Robert W. LuckyUnfortunately … he appears to think the task of community development is below his pay grade.—Faith Bautista
Faith BautistaNo one will read this book and come away wondering if steroids really work. Oh, they work. They bump a competitor up a whole pay grade—from finishing in the middle of the pack in the final heat to breaking the tape and collecting the winner's bonus.—Michael Sokolove
Michael SokoloveExamples of pay grade in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And the governor, an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination this year, acknowledged that the arrival this week in Havana Harbor of a small Russian flotilla that included a nuclear submarine and another ship armed with hypersonic missiles was an issue above his pay grade.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2024
As for what’s above the pay grade of a Supreme Court justice, that includes God’s job of dispensing the divine grace that would make the country more godly.
—The Editors, National Review, 12 June 2024
Three other tackles have surpassed that annual pay grade.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024
The plan also raises the maximum salary range for all pay grades by 10% and authorizes new incentives for future recruits and current employees who go above and beyond, either through a lump sum payment or through extra hours of paid leave, according to the governor.
—Michael R. Wickline, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
Employees in certain pay grades making less than $20 per hour next year will receive a one-time bonus to make their total yearly income the equivalent of those making $20 per hour.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
Aiyuk, however, is seeking greater financial security and a multi-year contract that aligns with other receivers atop the NFL’s pay grade, at about $25 million annually.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
To earn a promotion and reach higher pay grades, firefighters usually have to move among the agency’s nine regions or earn a master’s degree in forestry and leave the fire line.
—ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024
Stromberg is mostly annoyed that a low-level congressperson is messing with a task force that is well above his pay grade, until Hudson links Red (James Spader) to last week's huge security breach at the Capital.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 7 July 2023
David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2024
As for what’s above the pay grade of a Supreme Court justice, that includes God’s job of dispensing the divine grace that would make the country more godly.
—The Editors, National Review, 12 June 2024
Three other tackles have surpassed that annual pay grade.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024
The plan also raises the maximum salary range for all pay grades by 10% and authorizes new incentives for future recruits and current employees who go above and beyond, either through a lump sum payment or through extra hours of paid leave, according to the governor.
—Michael R. Wickline, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
Employees in certain pay grades making less than $20 per hour next year will receive a one-time bonus to make their total yearly income the equivalent of those making $20 per hour.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2024
Aiyuk, however, is seeking greater financial security and a multi-year contract that aligns with other receivers atop the NFL’s pay grade, at about $25 million annually.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
To earn a promotion and reach higher pay grades, firefighters usually have to move among the agency’s nine regions or earn a master’s degree in forestry and leave the fire line.
—ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024
Stromberg is mostly annoyed that a low-level congressperson is messing with a task force that is well above his pay grade, until Hudson links Red (James Spader) to last week's huge security breach at the Capital.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 7 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pay grade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pay grade
Cite this Entry
“Pay grade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pay%20grade. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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