Left and right initially constrained by state earnings (6)
I believe the answer is:
salary
'earnings' is the definition.
('salary' can be a synonym of 'earnings')
'left and right initially constrained by state' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'constrained by' indicates putting letters inside.
'state' becomes 'say' ('say' can be a synonym of 'state'**).
The initial letters of 'left and right' is 'lar'.
'lar' placed within 'say' is 'SALARY'.
(Other definitions for salary that I've seen before include "Monthly pay" , "Remuneration for work done" , "Annual pay" , "Regular monthly wage" , "Stipend" .)