wage earner

noun

1. a person who works for wages, especially a laborer.

wage earner

noun

1. a person who works for wages, esp as distinguished from one paid a salary
2. the person who earns money to support a household by working

Word History and Origins

Origin of wage earner¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

They also increase government revenues from increased earnings and taxes paid by parents, and later by children who go on to become wage earners or entrepreneurs.

From Salon

“Pay day is coming,” Mr. Sunak posted, referring to the savings that an average wage earner would supposedly reap from a cut in mandatory contributions to Britain’s national insurance system.

From New York Times

In Seattle and King County, the median income spiked during the pandemic due to “very high wage earners skewing the top,” said Nona Raybern, communications manager at Seattle’s Office of Housing.

From Seattle Times

“Many staff members became donors of services rather than wage earners,” he wrote, “This was the result of under-capitalization.”

From Seattle Times

"It's tough to lift the heavy materials, especially when there's pollution as I cough a lot when smoke gets in my lungs and my eyes burn," said the sole wage earner in his family.

From Reuters

Related Words

• blue collar
• blue-collar worker
• breadwinner