meager salary
[ˈmiːɡər ˈsæləri]
noun phrasepl: meager salaries
salário insuficiente
1. a very small or inadequate amount of money paid regularly to an employee for their work; insufficient income to meet living expenses
The entry-level position offered only a meager salary that barely covered rent.
A posição de nível inicial oferecia apenas um salário insuficiente que mal cobria o aluguel.
2. wages or compensation that are inadequate relative to the work performed or cost of living
Despite working full-time, she received a meager salary that left her struggling financially.
Apesar de trabalhar em tempo integral, ela recebia um salário insuficiente que a deixava com dificuldades financeiras.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, discussing 'meager salary' reflects persistent concerns about wage inequality and cost of living. In Brazil, this phrase is particularly relevant given economic disparities and inflation concerns. In the USA, it's commonly used in discussions about minimum wage, gig economy work, and entry-level positions. The concept carries sociological weight in labor discussions and worker advocacy movements in both countries.
NYC Slang
chump change (when referring to the amount), or 'that gig don't pay'
Related Idioms & Phrases
earning peanuts
working for next to nothing
minimum wage trap
living paycheck to paycheck
ganhar tostões (Portuguese idiom - earning crumbs)
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