Collocations for wage - noun
ADJECTIVE
competitive (esp. AmE),
decent,
fair,
good,
high
inadequate, low, meagre/meager (esp. BrE), poverty, small
Women's wages were lower than men's.
He busked to supplement his meagre wages.
inadequate, low, meagre/meager (esp. BrE), poverty, small
Women's wages were lower than men's.
He busked to supplement his meagre wages.
falling,
rising
annual, daily, hourly, regular, weekly, etc.
money
nominal, real
Real wages fell last year, when inflation is taken into account.
annual, daily, hourly, regular, weekly, etc.
money
nominal, real
Real wages fell last year, when inflation is taken into account.
basic (esp. BrE),
standard
a basic wage of £100 a week plus tips
a basic wage of £100 a week plus tips
livable (esp. AmE),
living
workers fighting for a living wage
workers fighting for a living wage
minimum
The Government this week raised the national minimum wage. (esp. BrE)
They both work minimum-wage jobs. (esp. AmE)
The Government this week raised the national minimum wage. (esp. BrE)
They both work minimum-wage jobs. (esp. AmE)
prevailing
(esp. AmE)
the prevailing wage for construction work is about $9 per hour
The prevailing wage is generally determined by local union rates.
the prevailing wage for construction work is about $9 per hour
The prevailing wage is generally determined by local union rates.
average,
median
(esp. AmE)
back, lost, unpaid
to receive reimbursement for lost wages
back, lost, unpaid
to receive reimbursement for lost wages
VERB + wage
pay
earn, make (esp. AmE)
She earns a good wage at the factory.
15 million Americans make minimum wage.
He made a good wage as a trader.
earn, make (esp. AmE)
She earns a good wage at the factory.
15 million Americans make minimum wage.
He made a good wage as a trader.
live on
How can you live on such a low wage?
How can you live on such a low wage?
demand
Semi-skilled tradesmen began to demand higher wages.
Semi-skilled tradesmen began to demand higher wages.
offer
The store argues that it offers competitive wages.
The store argues that it offers competitive wages.
accept
receive
determine, set
Markets set the wages.
receive
determine, set
Markets set the wages.
increase,
push up,
raise
Full employment pushed up wages.
Full employment pushed up wages.
cut,
depress (esp. AmE),
drive down,
force down,
hold down,
keep down,
keep low,
lower
supplement
dock
They docked his wages for arriving at work two hours late.
supplement
dock
They docked his wages for arriving at work two hours late.
wage + NOUN
earner
labour/labor, labourer/laborer (esp. AmE), workers
slave (figurative)
my life as a corporate wage slave
labour/labor, labourer/laborer (esp. AmE), workers
slave (figurative)
my life as a corporate wage slave
claim
The union submitted a wage claim for a 9% rise.
The union submitted a wage claim for a 9% rise.
bargaining,
negotiations
agreement, settlement
cut, reduction
cap, controls, freeze, restraint
The government promised greater tax cuts in return for continued wage restraints.
agreement, settlement
cut, reduction
cap, controls, freeze, restraint
The government promised greater tax cuts in return for continued wage restraints.
explosion,
growth (esp. AmE),
hike (esp. AmE),
increase,
inflation,
rise
(BrE)
bill (BrE), costs
structure, system
rate, scale (esp. AmE)
differential (esp. AmE), gap, inequality
wage differentials between large and small companies
the wage gap between men and women
bill (BrE), costs
structure, system
rate, scale (esp. AmE)
differential (esp. AmE), gap, inequality
wage differentials between large and small companies
the wage gap between men and women
packet
(BrE)
He got his first wage packet at fourteen years old.
He got his first wage packet at fourteen years old.
PHRASES
a cut in wages,
a decline in wages,
a fall in wages
a downward pressure on wages, an upward pressure on wages
Staff shortages have put an upward pressure on wages.
a downward pressure on wages, an upward pressure on wages
Staff shortages have put an upward pressure on wages.
growth in wages,
an increase in wages,
a rise in wages
(esp. BrE)