Learn English – When did the phrase “above your paygrade” come into use

historyphrases

I heard this phrase in the current movie "The Post" and suspect it is an anachronism. Was this phrase in use in 1971?

Best Answer

My first instinct would be that this is quite an old expression, although it was likely used in a military or otherwise ranked and graded environment. It may be a bit more recent than I thought though. I found this link on quoteland.com where user thenostromo cites a source that is, alas, no longer available. It is however, archived by the WayBack Machine - thank you @DanBron for the link!:

The oldest use of "above my paygrade" only dates to 1999 on google news archives, from a chat transcript with gossip writer Lloyd Grove. However, searching for "above my pay grade" with a space yields older sources, going back to a 1981, which appear to have a military origin. In 1981, it came from a quote from Navy Secretary John Lehman in a UPI story.

Quote: “There has been no decision on Admiral Rickover’s extension (in the job) and it really is a decision that is above my pay grade" ~ Navy Secretary John Lehman

Its use by a military pilot in 1986 at least received notice by one columnist. It continues to be mentioned most often in military settings until the early 1990s, when it began to be more broadly used by US government officials. In July 1996, USAtoday described US republican congressperson Susan Molinari as someone who "uses hip phrases like above my pay grade and totally iced."

So that would indicate an early '80's origin of the expression, making your '71 quote indeed anachronistic.

However, another user, Bobby Stafford, on the same page quotes from personal experience:

I spent 20 years in the U. S. Army, beginning in 1966. I heard that phrase almost from the beginning, perhaps even once or twice in basic training. For those not familiar with the difference between 'rank' and 'grade': Rank is a titled designation, such as 'private' or 'sergeant.' Grade is actually for 'pay grade.' Enlisted soldiers grades range from E1 to E9, with equivalent ranks being private, corporal/specialist, etc., through Sergeant Major.

More than once I would ask a superior what a certain decision would be, and he would say, "That's above my pay grade." Meaning, of course, "I don't have the rank to make those decisions."

It's a military cliche I've heard for over 45 years.

So, if you trust this person, the expression has at least been in use since 1966, albeit in a military context. Whether your '71 quote is an anachronism would then largely depend on the context in which it was used.

Related Topic