'well-paid' originates from the combination of 'well' and 'paid', where 'well' meant 'in a good or satisfactory way' and 'paid' referred to receiving money for work.

'well-paid' changed from the Old English word 'wel' and the Middle English word 'paide', eventually becoming the modern English word 'well-paid'.

Initially, it meant 'satisfactorily compensated', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.