'worker-level' originates from the combination of 'worker' and 'level', where 'worker' refers to an individual who performs labor and 'level' indicates a specific rank or position.

'worker' and 'level' have been used in English since the Middle Ages, with 'worker' deriving from Old English 'weorc' and 'level' from Old French 'livelle'.

Initially, 'worker-level' referred to the basic rank of laborers, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.