What is the accounting term used for salaries paid to employees?

The term that is appropriate for salaries paid to employees is ‘wages.’ In the context of accounting, wages refers specifically to the compensation provided to employees for their work, typically calculated on an hourly basis or as a fixed salary. It encompasses not just the base pay, but also any additional earnings such as overtime.

In contrast, other options like loans refer to borrowed money that must be repaid, interest is the cost of borrowing that money, and mortgages are specific types of loans used to purchase real estate. These terms fall outside the realm of employee compensation, thereby making 'wages' the most suitable choice for describing salaries paid to employees.