Salario vs. stipendio
The Italian words 'salario' and 'stipendio' both refer to payment for work, but they have subtle differences in usage and connotation.
Salario
'Salario' typically refers to wages paid to manual or hourly workers, often calculated on a daily or weekly basis.
Il salario minimo in Italia è un argomento di dibattito.
(The minimum wage in Italy is a topic of debate.)
Gli operai hanno chiesto un aumento del salario.
(The factory workers have asked for a wage increase.)
Stipendio
'Stipendio' usually denotes a fixed monthly salary for salaried employees or professionals.
Lo stipendio dei professori universitari varia in base all'esperienza.
(The salary of university professors varies based on experience.)
Il suo stipendio annuale è di 50.000 euro.
(His annual salary is 50,000 euros.)
Summary
While 'salario' is often used for hourly or manual labor wages, 'stipendio' typically refers to fixed monthly salaries for professionals or office workers. However, in everyday speech, Italians may use these terms interchangeably.