pay peanuts

To pay (someone) a very paltry or minuscule amount; to pay the absolute minimum amount necessary. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pay" and "peanuts." I had a few jobs during college getting paid peanuts, but it was the only work I could find that fit in with my studies. You're never going to be able to hire an effective manager if you're only willing to pay them peanuts.