wage scale

noun

: a schedule of wage rates for related tasks
broadly : the general level of wages in an industry or region

Examples of wage scale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The court restored the initial intent of the petition initiatives, but since the 2022 timeline for a $12-an-hour minimum wage has already passed, justices ordered the state treasurer to set a new wage scale that accounts for inflation between 2018 and 2024. Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 3 Aug. 2024 On the lower end of the wage scale, the jobs that haven’t disappeared are often in high-risk environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, and supermarkets. Mohamed A. El-Erian, Foreign Affairs, 1 June 2020 In their ruling, justices directed the state treasurer to set a new wage scale that accounts for inflation between 2018 and 2024. Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 31 July 2024 City officials said the tax is necessary to increase wages for police officers and stay competitive with area agencies, including the Kansas City Police Department, which recently adopted a new wage scale that hiked pay. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for wage scale 

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wage scale was in 1900

Dictionary Entries Near wage scale

Cite this Entry

“Wage scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wage%20scale. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wage scale

noun
: a list of wage rates for related tasks
also : the general level of wages for an area or region
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!