The 4-methylbenzoate anion of the title salt, C6H9N2 +·C8H7O2 −, is nearly planar, with a dihedral angle of 6.26 (10)° between the benzene ring and the carboxylate group. In the crystal, the protonated N atom and the 2-amino group of the cation are hydrogen bonded to the carboxylate O atoms of the anion via a pair of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with an R 2 2(8) ring motif, forming an approximately planar ion pair with a dihedral angle of 9.63 (4)° between the pyridinium and benzene rings. The ion pairs are further connected via N—H⋯O and weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to the bc plane.