Definition

Noun: A structured system or schedule that lists the specific rates of pay for different jobs, positions, or grades within an organization, industry, or region. It establishes the hierarchy of compensation.

Usage

The term "wage scale" is used to describe the formal pay structure of a company, union contract, or public sector. It is a countable noun. * The new union contract established a clear wage scale for all apprentice and journeyman positions. * Government jobs are often tied to a standardized wage scale. * The company is reviewing its wage scale to ensure competitiveness in the market.

Advanced Usage

• "to be on a wage scale": To have one's pay determined by such a structured system.
  • Most civil servants are on a fixed wage scale that increases with seniority.
• "to negotiate a wage scale": To bargain over the pay structure as part of collective bargaining.
  • The union's primary goal was to negotiate a more equitable wage scale.

Variants and Related Words

• Pay scale: A direct synonym, often used interchangeably with "wage scale."
• Salary range: Typically used for professional or salaried positions rather than hourly "wages," but conceptually similar.
• Wage structure: A broader term that can encompass the "wage scale" along with other compensation policies.

Synonyms

• Pay schedule
• Pay structure
• Rate schedule

Related Phrases

• To move up the wage scale: To advance to a higher pay level within the structure, often through promotion or experience.
  • After five years, employees can move up the wage scale to the next pay grade.

Noun

1. a schedule of wages paid for different jobs