An hourly employee is a worker who is paid for the number of hours worked, rather than a salary. Hourly employees are typically non-exempt employees and are subject to the rules and regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other labor laws.

Hourly employees are typically paid at an agreed-upon hourly rate, and they may be eligible for overtime pay if they work more than a certain number of hours in a week. Employers are required to keep accurate records of the hours worked by hourly employees and to pay them promptly.

Hourly employees are often used in part-time, seasonal, or temporary positions, and they may work in industries such as retail, hospitality, or healthcare. They are also common in jobs that require variable schedules, such as customer service and delivery drivers. Hourly employees may have set schedules, or may be required to be on-call to work as needed.