A base salary is the fixed amount of money that an employee is paid for their work, exclusive of any bonuses, commissions, or other forms of additional compensation. It is the ""base"" amount of pay on which other forms of compensation may be added.

It is the primary component of an employee's total compensation package and is usually paid out on a regular basis, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Base salary is used as a benchmark for determining other forms of compensation, such as raises and bonuses. It is also used for determining certain employment benefits such as medical insurance, retirement plans, and vacation time.

The base salary is usually determined by the job title, level of experience, and qualifications of the employee, and it is also affected by the cost of living and the current market conditions.