Starvation might have been a factor in determining the course of the revolution, and might have helped it gain momentum, but I don't think it's right to say that the revolution happened "due to starvation". The triggering event was the declaration of bankruptcy of the French state, and apart from poverty and starvation, there were a lot of other factors that also helped move revolutionary ideas along.

In a way you can consider that a "salary." Whether it's an edible currency or not is irrelevant.