Which sentence correctly contrasts hourly wage and salary with examples?

• A. 'Hourly wage is $15/hour' and 'Salary is $60,000/year.'
• B. 'Hourly wage is monthly only'
• C. 'Salary is hourly'
• D. 'Hourly wage and salary are the same'

Answer: (A)

Understanding how hourly wage and salary are described helps you see the difference in how pay is calculated. An hourly wage is a rate of pay per hour worked, so the total earnings depend on how many hours you work. A salary is a fixed amount paid each year, regardless of the exact number of hours, though it’s typically paid out in regular intervals over the year.

The sentence that pairs hourly wage with a per-hour amount and salary with an annual amount does this most clearly: “Hourly wage is $15/hour” and “Salary is $60,000/year.” It uses the correct time bases for each type—per hour for the wage and per year for the salary—which directly contrasts the two concepts.

The other choices mix up the concepts: one implies hourly wages are defined only monthly, which isn’t true since hourly pay depends on hours worked; another says salary is hourly, which isn’t accurate; and another claims the two are the same, which is incorrect.