beyond one's pay grade

• above one's pay grade

Possibly from the correspondence of pay grade to level of authority in U.S. civil service and in the U.S. armed forces.

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beyond one's pay grade

1. (idiomatic) Beyond one's level of authority.
   • 1971, Testimony before U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services,

     Sir, I think that is a policy decision only the President can make. That is beyond my pay grade.

2. (idiomatic) Beyond one's capability.
   • 2007, Los Angeles Times:

     Figuring out how it would work logistically is above and beyond my pay grade and my brain power.