Can Zakat Be Given To The People Who Live By Salary Or Wage?

Can zakat be given to the people who live by salary or wage?

Eligible recipients of zakat in Islam are determined regardless of the occupation of the person. In this regard, zakat may be given to persons who have a certain income but are not able to cover basic needs with this income or do not have wealth in an amount of 80.18 gr gold or the same value after covering basic needs. It does not matter if these persons are paid, officer, tradesmen or unemployed. However because there are some scholars of the opinion that zakat may not be given to those who are able to cover basic needs expenses of themselves and their dependants even though they don’t have nisab amount of wealth (Rafi’i, al-Aziz, VII, 377), it would be more appropriate to prioritize poorer people while giving zakat.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA