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The Global Insight

Is commission considered variable pay?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on March 30, 2026

Commission only is a kind of pay that may be considered variable in the sense that the more product is sold, the more commission is earned. However, commission-only pay provides no base pay.

Can my employer stop paying me commission?

Unless you have a clear contractual entitlement to a specified level of bonus or commission, your employer may be tempted to withhold payment. If you have been dismissed without being paid the bonus or commission you think you are entitled to, you should take legal advice.

Can a company change your bonus scheme?

Can bonuses be changed by your employer? Discretionary bonuses can be changed with impunity but contractual commission schemes and contractual bonus structures are normally legally protected.

Is variable pay part of salary?

Variable pay is the portion of sales compensation determined by employee performance. When employees hit their goals, variable pay is provided as a type of bonus, incentive pay, or commission. Base salary, on the other hand, is fixed and paid out regardless of employees meeting their goals.

What are examples of variable compensation?

Variable pay is awarded in a variety of formats—including profit sharing, bonuses, holiday bonus, deferred compensation, cash, and goods and services such as a company-paid trip or a Thanksgiving turkey.

Can a company take back commission?

California Court of appeals has maintained that employers do have the right to take back previously issued commission wages. This practice is commonly referred to as “charge backs”.

What is variable pay in salary slip?

Variable pay, also known as performance pay, is used to recognise and reward employee contribution above and beyond their normal job requirements, towards company productivity, profitability, quality and the like.

How to determine if an employee is paid by commissions?

In addition, the employer must select a representative period of at least one month, but not more than one year, which typifies the characteristics of the employee’s earning pattern, in order to test whether the employee is paid principally by commissions.

Is there a cap on commissions for salaried employees?

Some businesses that have commission-based employees and employees who are salaried choose to put a cap on commissions. This way, the salaried employees do not feel like the commission-based employees earn a lot more than them. Although commissions are common with certain positions, they are never required under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

How does variable commission work in a business?

Variable commission is as it sounds, varying based on the type of sale. With this setup, any simple or easy to acquire sales can be rewarded differently than tough sales to encourage growth in specific markets. It can also be used to reward the sale of long-term contracts or highly desirable customers.

How does commission work in a payroll structure?

How Commission Works and How to Choose the Right Payroll Structure Within a commission structure, a company compensates its employees based on the revenue they generate for the business. By definition, commission is a fee paid to an employee for transacting a piece of business or performing a service.