pay grade

American

[pey greyd] / ˈpeɪ ˌgreɪd /

noun

the grade of a member of the armed services established according to a scale of increasing amounts of base pay and related to but not identical with official rank.

A soldier in my pay grade had very little money.
a grade on any pay or salary scale.

Advancement to a higher pay grade will depend on your job performance.

idioms

be above / be beyond one's pay grade, to be above one’s level of ability, skill, knowledge, or authority: It’s beyond this court’s pay grade to alter the doctrine.

To be honest, that subject is way above my pay grade.
It’s beyond this court’s pay grade to alter the doctrine.

Etymology

Origin of pay grade

First recorded in 1880–85; originally a term in the U.S. armed forces

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It’s above my pay grade,” Redick said.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s above my pay grade,” Redick responded again.

From Los Angeles Times

Some will say players should not be involved, that it’s a management decision high above the pay grade of the average southpaw or slugger.

From Los Angeles Times

Similarly, Redick said any changes would be “way above my pay grade.”

From Los Angeles Times

Whether that’s achievable is above my pay grade.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023