means A fixed regular payment, typically paid monthly, that an employer gives an employee in exchange for their work.

from From Latin salarium, which traced back to sal, 'salt.' The popular story is that Roman soldiers were paid in salt — and that this is the origin of being 'worth your salt.' The truth is hazier: salarium more likely referred to an allowance given to soldiers, possibly to buy salt (a precious commodity) among other necessities. The word traveled through Old French salaire into English, carrying its salty pedigree into every paycheck since.