Graduated Commissions

Our Learning Business Math software program contains over 35 topic areas. One of them is Graduated Commissions, and this page summarizes the main ideas of this topic. This page is intended for review, and is not a substitute for the interactive, self-paced tutorials of the MathTutor Learning Business Math program.

General Explanation

If a worker is paid a graduated commission, his commission rate increases as his sales increase. Generally, a graduated commission will offer a different commission rate for several distinct levels of sales.
 
An employer may offer a graduated commission in order to encourage workers to sell more because they will earn more money for increased sales.
 
Sample Problem

Ann Marin sells appliances. She receives a graduated commission of 6% on her first $3000 of sales, 8% on the next $5000, and 10% on sales over $8000. If Ann has sales of $9000 during the week, what is her commission for the week?

Solution

Since Ann receives a graduated commission, we will have to add the commissions she receives at all levels of sales.
 
She will receive a commission of 6% of the first $3000 in sales and 8% of the next $5000 in sales. She will receive a commission of 10% for sales over $8000. Since her total sales were $9000, her sales over $8000 are $1000 ($9000 - $8000). Let's find her commissions at each level.
First $3000: $3000 x .06 = $180
Next $5000:  $5000 x .08 = $400
Over $8000:  $1000 x .10 = $100
Ann's total commissions are $180 + $400 + $100 = $680