Salário vs. ordenado
In Portuguese, salário and ordenado are often used interchangeably to mean salary or wages. However, salário is the broader, legally recognized term used for total compensation and is the standard word in Brazil. Ordenado specifically refers to a fixed monthly amount and is much more common in European Portuguese than in Brazilian Portuguese.
Salário
A2This is the general, technical, and legal term for money received in exchange for work. It is the word used in official concepts like salário mínimo (minimum wage) and covers all forms of compensation, whether fixed or variable.
O governo decidiu aumentar o salário mínimo este ano.
(The government decided to increase the minimum wage this year.)
Ela negociou um salário melhor antes de aceitar o emprego.
(She negotiated a better salary before accepting the job.)
O seu salário base não inclui as comissões de vendas.
(His base salary does not include sales commissions.)
Eles recebem o salário no quinto dia útil do mês.
(They receive their wages on the fifth business day of the month.)
Ordenado
B1This term refers specifically to a fixed payment made at regular intervals, usually monthly. It implies a set sum that has been ordered or arranged. It is widely used in Portugal for monthly pay but can sound slightly formal or old-fashioned in Brazil.
Ele transfere metade do ordenado para a conta poupança.
(He transfers half of his wages into the savings account.)
O meu ordenado cai na conta sempre no final do mês.
(My monthly pay always lands in the account at the end of the month.)
É difícil sustentar uma família com um ordenado baixo.
(It is difficult to support a family on a low wage.)
A empresa ainda não pagou o ordenado de janeiro.
(The company has not yet paid the January salary.)
Summary
Use salário for legal contexts, minimum wage discussions, and generally in Brazil. Use ordenado when referring specifically to a fixed monthly paycheck, especially if speaking European Portuguese.