Roman soldiers were paid in salt, which is the origin of the word salary.

Is it true that Roman soldiers were paid in salt, which is the origin of the word salary?

Partly. One popular reading textbook asserts Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt and that this gave us the word salary, while a QI book and a StackExchange discussion say salary did not come from salt pay and that Pliny is the source of the claim. The items only partially address the claim and disagree.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 1 source for, 2 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Wassman, R. & Rinsky, L. A. (2000). Effective Reading in a Changing World. books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=qhLuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Roman+soldiers+were+paid+in+salt,+which+is+the+origin+of+the+word+salary.&hl=&as_pt=BOOKS&source=gbs_api

Is the etymology of "salary" a myth?. (n.d.). english.stackexchange.com. https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/448865/is-the-etymology-of-salary-a-myth

Lloyd, J., Mitchinson, J., Harkin, J., & Murray, A. H. (2015). QI: The Third Book of General Ignorance. play.google.com. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=3q6eCgAAQBAJ&source=gbs_api