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Introduction
Etymology is an interesting discipline. Through the study of origins of words, the true
meanings of various words are found including how these meanings have changed over time. In
many cases, the words as they are known today had very different meanings when they entered
the English language. Also, some words have very interesting origins and meanings. The word
"salary" is one of those words that have interesting origins and meanings. Salary has a rich
history, and it has particularly impacted how Americans seek employment and how they get
paid.
Etymology of the word “salary”
“Salary,” as it is known today, originated from a Latin word salarium which was used to
refer to the anything given in payment of salt. In the ancient world, salt was used for many
purposes including food preservation, treating wounds, and as a means of payment especially in
Rome and Egypt (Círillo et al. 426). For example, salt was used to pay workers in the Egyptian
Empire. Workers would then use the salt to preserve food as well as add taste to food. At the
time, salt was so precious that it was often referred to as white gold (McKillop 29). In Rome, salt
was used for trading and commerce. Soldiers working for the Roman Empire were given
handfuls of salt as payment for their services at the end of every day (Pliny (the Elder) et al.

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203). The saying “being worth the salt” comes from the understanding that salt was used as
means of payment, and one had to work hard to earn the handful of salt given at the end of the
day or working month.
In other parts of the world, the word salary had different meanings. In ancient France, for
example, it was developed from the world salarie or salaire which meant a reward, wage, or pay.
In Latin, too, salarium was used to refer to revenues or profits accrued from selling salt or the...