What is the term for compensation given to workers, typically expressed in terms of hours or completed pieces?

The term for compensation given to workers, typically expressed in terms of hours or completed pieces, is wages. Wages refer specifically to the payment made to employees that can be calculated based on the number of hours worked or the amount of work completed, such as piecework. This distinguishes it from salary, which is usually a fixed annual amount regardless of hours worked, making it more predictable but less directly tied to physical output or hours clocked in.

Commission is compensation based on sales performance, often used in sales jobs to incentivize employees, while a bonus is typically a one-time additional payment given for achieving certain targets or company performance metrics. Wages are straightforward and directly associated with the number of hours worked or output delivered, making them a fundamental aspect of labor compensation structures.