Hourly Wage
Compensation calculated per hour worked, the primary pay structure for approximately 56% of U.S. workers. BLS data converts all wages to both hourly and annual equivalents.
Hourly Wage is a term from U.S. wage and occupational data — typically a concept from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the DOL prevailing-wage system, or related employment statistics. The definition here is the practical worker-facing meaning. Understanding Hourly Wage is part of reading wage data defensibly. BLS and DOL conventions can be subtle — survey methodology, reporting thresholds, geographic definitions, and percentile calculations all shape what the headline numbers actually mean.
Each role-and-city page on SalaryTruth surfaces the Hourly Wage-relevant values for that specific combination, so the general definition here translates into concrete numbers on the per-role-and-city pages.
How It Works
Hourly wages are the dominant pay structure for non-exempt workers (those covered by FLSA overtime protections). The federal minimum wage has been $7.25/hour since 2009, though 30+ states and many cities set higher minimums (some exceeding $15/hour). To convert hourly to annual: multiply by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). A $25/hour wage equals approximately $52,000 annually, though actual annual earnings depend on hours worked, overtime, and paid time off. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) reports wages in both hourly and annual formats. Hourly workers receive overtime pay (1.5x regular rate) for hours exceeding 40 per week under the FLSA. Some roles that are traditionally salaried (exempt) have been reclassified to hourly following DOL rule changes raising the salary threshold for overtime exemption. When comparing hourly and salaried positions, remember that hourly workers may earn more through overtime but have less predictable income and often receive fewer benefits.
Related Terms
- Base Salary, The fixed amount of money an employee earns before bonuses, benefits, overtime, or other additional compensation, the guaranteed floor of your total pay.
- Overtime Pay, Compensation at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, required by the Fair Labor Standards Act for non-exempt employees.
- Median Salary, The middle point of all salaries for a given role, half of workers earn more, half earn less. More useful than average salary because it isn't skewed by extremely high or low earners.
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About This Definition
This definition is part of the SalaryTruth Salary & Career Glossary, 25 terms explaining compensation, salary data, and career development. All salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey.