English for Money and Salary — Talking About Pay Without Awkwardness

Money is the topic where cultural rules and vocabulary collide hardest. A phrase that's perfectly ordinary in one language lands as intrusive in English; a number said too plainly can cost you the negotiation.

This is the vocabulary, and the etiquette that goes with it.

The words, precisely

Learners often use these interchangeably. They aren't.

Gross and net matter more than any other pair here. UK and US salaries are quoted gross; in some countries people quote net. Agreeing to "£40,000" while thinking take-home is an expensive misunderstanding.

Also worth knowing: package (salary plus benefits), bonus, commission, equity, pension contribution, notice period, pro rata (the part-time equivalent of a full-time figure).

Discussing salary in an interview

When they ask what you're looking for — and they will:

• I'm looking for something in the region of sixty thousand.
• Based on my experience, I'd be expecting somewhere between fifty-five and sixty-five.
• What's the range you've budgeted for the role?

Giving a range beats giving a number, and asking for theirs first is completely normal. In many markets the range is legally required to be published, so asking isn't rude.

If you'd rather not answer yet:

• I'd rather understand the role a bit better first — could you tell me the range?
• I'm flexible for the right opportunity, but I'd want it to reflect my experience.

Negotiating an offer:

• Thank you — I'm really pleased. Is there any flexibility on the salary?
• I was hoping for something closer to sixty-five. Is that possible?
• Could we look at the wider package? (when the salary itself is fixed)

"Is there any flexibility?" is the standard, non-confrontational way to open a negotiation in English. It asks without demanding and almost never causes offence.

The vocabulary underneath all this is what Job Interview Basics covers at A2–B1 — and Talking About Money handles the register at B1–B2, which is really where the difficulty lives.

Charging as a freelancer

Different rules again: here you state a number and hold it.

• My day rate is four hundred.
• I usually charge by the project — I can put a quote together.
• That's outside my usual rate, but I could do a reduced scope.
• My rates have gone up since we last worked together — I'm now at…

Chasing payment, politely and then less so:

1. Just a gentle reminder that invoice 104 is due on Friday.
2. I wanted to check in on invoice 104 — it was due last week.
3. Invoice 104 is now thirty days overdue. Could you let me know when I can expect payment?

Notice the progression: the language gets plainer as it gets firmer. English signals seriousness by removing softeners, not by adding angry ones.

The Language of the Side Hustle covers this whole world at B1–B2 — rates, clients, invoices and the vocabulary of working for yourself.

Everyday money talk

• skint / broke — no money (informal)
• well off / comfortable — has money (indirect, which is the point)
• a rip-off — overpriced
• a bargain / a steal — very good value
• to be quoted — given a price for work
• to split the bill / go halves / go Dutch — share the cost
• it's on me / my treat / I'll get this — I'm paying
• to chip in — everyone contributes

At a restaurant, the exchange is fixed:

— Shall we split it? — No, it's on me — you got the last one.

The etiquette — the part that's not vocabulary

In most English-speaking cultures:

• Asking what someone earns is intrusive. Even close friends often don't know. Asking a new colleague is a genuine misstep.
• Asking what someone paid for their house or rent is similar, though slightly softer.
• Discussing salary with colleagues is increasingly normal — pay transparency has shifted this — but take the lead from them.
• Complaining about money to someone who has less reads badly.
• In a negotiation, talking about money plainly is expected. The taboo is social, not commercial. Nobody thinks less of you for asking about range or flexibility.

If you do want to ask, frame it around the market, not the person:

• Do you know what the going rate is for that kind of role?
• Is that about what people are getting for this sort of work?

Common questions

What's the difference between salary, wage and rate?

A salary is fixed annual pay, usually paid monthly. A wage is paid by the hour or week. A rate is what a freelancer charges per hour or day. A fee is a one-off charge for a service.

What does gross salary mean?

Gross is before tax; net or take-home is what actually reaches your account. UK and US salaries are quoted gross, while some countries quote net — agreeing to a figure while thinking of the other one is an expensive misunderstanding.

How do I answer "what salary are you looking for?"

Give a range rather than a number, or ask for theirs first: "What's the range you've budgeted for the role?" That's completely normal, and in many markets the range has to be published anyway.

How do I negotiate a salary offer in English?

Open with "Is there any flexibility on the salary?" — it's the standard, non-confrontational phrasing. Then name a figure: "I was hoping for something closer to sixty-five." If the salary is fixed, ask to look at the wider package instead.

Is it rude to ask someone how much they earn in English?

Yes, in most English-speaking cultures — even close friends often don't know each other's salaries. Discussing pay with colleagues is becoming more normal, but follow their lead. If you need the information, ask about the market instead: "Do you know what the going rate is for that kind of role?"

Where to start

Talking About Money is the B1–B2 course on this register — the vocabulary and the tact together, which is the part that actually decides how it lands.

For the job side, Job Interview Basics covers the conversation where salary comes up at A2–B1. The Language of the Side Hustle covers rates, clients and invoices if you work for yourself, and Future Jobs: Robots and AI at Work is the B1 course on where the work itself is going.