---
title: Making Money - It's A Money Thing | Oregonians Credit Union
description: "Different Ways to make Money: Wage, Salary and Commision People earn an income when they are hired by an employer to work at a job. Income is earned as a wage, a salary or a sales commission."
---

[It's a Money Thing | Oregonians Credit Union ](https://www.oregonianscu.com/financial-learning/money-thing)

# [Making Money - It's A Money Thing | Oregonians Credit Union](https://www.oregonianscu.com/financial-learning/money-thing/making-money-iamt-jr)

 Written by [Admin](https://www.oregonianscu.com/financial-learning/money-thing/author/admin) | Dec 2, 2023 11:01:21 PM

**Different Ways to make Money: Wage, Salary and ****Commission**

People earn an income when they are hired by an employer to work at a job. Income is earned as a wage, a salary or a sales commission.

##### **Let’s look at an example of each:**

**Andrew** works as a waiter at the Pancake Hut. He earns a wage. A wage is a set amount of money per hour of work. Andrew’s wage is $10 per hour.

**Ellie** works as a scientist. She earns a salary. A salary is a set amount of money per year. Ellie’s salary is $50,000 per year. If she adds up all her paychecks this year, the total will equal $50,000.

**Toby** works as a real estate agent. He earns a sales commission. A sales commission is an amount of money based on part of a sale amount. Tony is helping a family sell their house. The family agrees to pay Tony 5% of the house’s sale price. Tony sells the house for $200,000. The family pays him $10,000, which is 5% of the $200,000 sale.

**Questions:**

1. Can you list three different ways an employer can pay you for working at a job?
2. What is the difference between a **wage** and a** salary**? 
3. A  ______   is income based on part of a sale amount.
4. What would Andrew have to do to earn more money at his job? What would Toby have to do?
5. **Bonus Question**: A wage, a salary and sales commission are all ways to earn income at a job. What is another way to earn income?

 

### **Activity**

What do you want to be when you grow up? You can access the printable PDF version [**here.**](https://www.oregonianscu.com/financial-learning/money-thing/JR1_E_ActivitySheet_Oregonians.pdf) 

**Get money smart, one topic at a time!** Our *It's A Money Thing* topics will help you interpret key financial information in order to make sense of your money. For more videos and helpful financial articles visit our [** It's A Money Thing home page**.](https://www.oregonianscu.com/financial-learning/money-thing/index.htm)  Check back, new topics will be introduced regularly!

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