Tiered rate pricing is one of the more common methods for payment processing pricing in the United States. It works by defining tiered categories and levels, each with its own predefined rate, dependent on the type of card used and the way the transactions are processed. Depending on the transaction qualification, the transaction is then assigned the associated rate tied to the standards and requirements of tiers, whether that is the Qualified Rate, Mid-Qualified Rate or Non-Qualified Rate, and then is priced accordingly.