underearn

under- +‎ earn

underearn (third-person singular simple present underearns, present participle underearning, simple past and past participle underearned)

1. (transitive) To earn less than.
   • 2007 June 28, Reuters, “Equity Firm Is Acquiring Guitar Center”, in New York Times‎:

     “They have a dominant retail position in a high-service business, yet significantly underearn other high-service-oriented retail segments,” Mr. Balter wrote in a research note after Guitar Center made its announcement.

2. (intransitive) To earn less than might be expected.

   Those who underearn should avoid overspending.

• earned run