A W-2 employee is also called a wage earner. There are many differences between being a wage earner and being self-employed, but a few of the relevant ones are that your employer pays half of your FICA taxes on your behalf, and you receive a W-2 form at the beginning of the following calendar year that explain all your wages, withheld taxes, and other items.
As a wage earner, you can be either a part-time or full-time employee – hours worked does not distinguish between a W-2 employee and a self-employed worker.
