A salary is a fixed amount of money a person earns for doing their job, usually paid in regular installments throughout the year. Unlike workers who are paid by the hour, salaried employees receive the same amount each pay period, whether they work exactly 40 hours that week or a bit more or less.

For example, a teacher might earn a salary of $50,000 per year, paid in equal chunks every two weeks. A software engineer earning a salary of $120,000 receives that amount spread across the year, regardless of whether some weeks involve 35 hours of work and others involve 50.

Today, when someone asks about a job's salary, they're usually asking about the total yearly pay, not the hourly rate.

Salary differs from wages, which usually means payment based on hours worked. It also differs from commission, where earnings depend on sales made. A salaried position often signals steady, predictable income. When adults discuss whether a job pays well, they're often comparing salaries to understand if the compensation matches the work required and the cost of living in their area.