wageearner

A wage earner is an individual whose primary source of income comes from wages or salaries earned through employment, rather than from ownership, capital gains, rents, or other passive income. The term is commonly used in economics and sociology to describe a worker who sells labor in exchange for compensation.

In capitalist economies, wage earners comprise a large portion of the labor force and are contrasted with self-employed individuals, business owners, and investors. The concept is closely linked to the idea of wage labor, a central element of most modern production systems.

Characteristics vary by occupation and country. Wage earners may be employed on a fixed salary or by the hour, with earnings influenced by skills, hours, and bargaining power. Benefits, job security, and access to social protections differ across sectors and welfare regimes. The line between wage earners and other workers can blur with gig work and informal employment.

Economic trends affecting wage earners include wage growth or stagnation, productivity, automation, outsourcing, and globalization. Policy tools such as minimum wage laws, collective bargaining, tax credits, and social insurance programs can affect living standards and wage dynamics.

Related concepts include the working class, the proletariat, the labor market, and wage inequality. The term wage earner is often used interchangeably with working-class or employee, depending on context, but is not strictly synonymous with any of these terms.