Erudite menial finally got paid (7)
I believe the answer is:
learned
'erudite' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'menial finally got paid' is the wordplay.
'finally' says to take the final letters.
'got paid' becomes 'earned' (I've seen this in another clue).
The last letter of 'menial' is 'l'.
'l'+'earned'='LEARNED'
(Other definitions for learned that I've seen before include "Wise, educated" , "Highbrow" , "Intellectual" , "widely read" , "Gained understanding" .)