- Piecework: Tanners might have been paid based on the number of hides they processed or the amount of leather they produced.
- Apprenticeship: Young people who entered the tanning trade would start as apprentices and typically receive no payment for their labor. However, they might have been provided food, lodging, and general maintenance during this period.
- Barter: In a largely agrarian society, bartering was common and tanners might have exchanged their goods or services for other items they needed, such as food or clothing.
- Profit Sharing: In some cases, tanners might have worked on a profit-sharing basis with the owners of the tannery.
- Wages: While some tanners might have received a wage, historical documentation of exact wage rates for different occupations during that time period is limited. Nonetheless, wages during this period were quite low compared to modern standards.