The spotlight shines anew on wages in the retail industry with two recent developments.
Amazon announced it would raise its minimum wage to $15, and new federal law requires publicly traded companies to begin reporting the ratio of CEO compensation to the median pay of company employees.
Nearly 16 million people work in the retail trade industry, where the median pay for sales workers is $11.24 an hour, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but many companies already pay at least a bit more for starting wages.
Here’s a look at what major U.S. retailers pay their workers in typical jobs, according to pay reports compiled by the job sites Glassdoor and Indeed. Where available, we have also included how much the CEOs at those companies are compensated — including salary, bonuses and other incentives — and, with the help of a Bloomberg online tracker, how that compensation compares with the median pay for workers. The top retailers are ordered by their 2017 sales volume, moving lowest to highest, based on a ranking by the National Retail Federation.
25. YUM! Brands
Retail sales: $17.97 billion; based in Louisville, Kentucky. (You know the company as KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell).
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Crew members, cashiers and cooks, $8 to $9/hour
- Shift manager, $29,000/year
- Assistant manager, $32,000 to $35,000/year
- Restaurant manager, $38,000 to $41,000/year
CEO pay: $12.4 million, 1,358 times median pay of $9,111/year
24. Verizon Wireless
Retail sales: $18.89 billion; based in New York
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Solutions specialist (sales rep), $13 to $15/hour
- Assistant retail store manager, $41,250/year
- General manager, $60,000/year
CEO pay: $17.9 million, 142 times median pay of $126,623/year
23. Kohl’s
Retail sales: $18.90 billion; based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Sales associates and cashiers, $9/hour
- Department supervisor, $11/hour
- Area supervisor, $14/hour
- Assistant store manager, $52,000/year
- Store manager, $86,000/year
CEO pay: $11.3 million, 1,264 times median pay of $8,976/year
22. Rite Aid
Retail sales: $21.52 billion; based in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashier, $9/hour
- Assistant store manager, $15/hour
- Pharmacist, $61/hour
- Store manager, $52,000/year
- District manager, $79,000/year
- Pharmacy manager, $126,000/year
CEO pay: $9.3 million, 287 times median pay of $32,471/year
21. Dollar Tree
Retail sales: $21.91 billion; based in Chesapeake, Virginia
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashier, $8/hour
- Assistant manager, $11/hour
- Store manager trainee, $41,300/year
- Store manager, $45,000/year
CEO pay: $8 million, 747 times median pay of $10,695/year
20. H-E-B
Retail sales: $21.94 billion; based in San Antonio, Texas (sometimes referred to as Texas’ favorite supermarket)
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Baggers, $9/hour
- Cashiers/checkers, $10 to $11/hour
- Overnight stocker, $12/hour
- Department manager, $53,600/year
- Store director, $77,200/year
CEO pay: Not available but the founder’s grandson Charles Butt and family are worth an estimated $10.7 billion by Forbes magazine.
19. Dollar General
Retail sales: $23.47 billion; based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Sales associate, $8/hour
- Assistant store manager, $32,000/year
- Store manager, $40,150/year
CEO pay: $8.8 million, 658 times median pay of $13,387/year
18. Macy’s
Retail sales: $24.76 billion; based in Cincinnati
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Sales associate, $9/hour
- Beauty adviser, $11/hour
- Cosmetics counter manager, $15/hour
- Merchandise team manager, $58,000/year
- Store manager, $85,000/year
CEO pay: $11 million, 806 times median pay of $13,810/year
17. Aldi
Retail sales: $25.86 billion; based in Batavia, Illinois. (Aldi is an abbreviation of its German parent company Albrecht Diskont).
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashiers and retail sales associates, $12.41/hour
- Shift manager, $17/hour
- Store manager trainee, $50,000/year
- Store manager, $70,000/year
Note: Sister company Trader Joe’s pays crew members $13/hour and store managers $57,000/year.
CEO pay: Not available
16. TJX Companies
Retail sales: $27.40 billion; based in Framingham, Massachusetts. (Store brands include T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s, Home Goods and others).
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Sales and merchandise associates and cashiers, $9/hour
- Merchandise coordinator, $11/hour
- Assistant store manager, $56,000/year
- Store manager, $75,000/year
CEO pay: $16.9 million, 1,501 times median pay of $11,243/year
15. Publix Super Markets
Retail sales: $34.56 billion; based in Lakeland, Florida
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Baggers, $9/hour
- Clerks, cashiers, stockers, $9 to $10/hour
- Cake decorator, $12/hour
- Certified pharmacy technician, $13/hour
- Assistant produce manager, $45,000/year
- Deli manager, $54,000/year
- Grocery manager, $60,000/year
- Store manager, $81,700/year
- Pharmacist, $114,00/year
- Pharmacy manager, $121,000/year
CEO pay: $2.48 million; ratio unavailable
14. McDonald’s
Retail sales: $37.64 billion; based in Oak Brook, Illinois
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cooks and cashiers, $8/hour
- Shift manager, $10/hour
- Department manager, $11/hour
- Assistant manager, $31,000 to $33,000/year
- General manager, $43,000/year
Note: Company-owned stores will start employees at $10/hour, McDonald’s says.
CEO pay: $21.8 million, 3,101 times median pay of $7,017/year
13. Best Buy
Retail sales: $38.59 billion; based in Richfield, Minnesota
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Sales associates, $10 to $11/hour
- Inventory specialists, $11/hour
- Geek Squad consultation agent, $12/hour
- General manager, $90,000/year
CEO pay: $16.8 million, 699 times median pay of $23,980/year
12. Apple Stores / iTunes
Retail sales: $38.60 billion; based in Cupertino, California
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Customer service advisers, $16/hour
- Technical service specialist, $17.90/hour
- Apple Genius, $21/hour
CEO pay: $12.8 million; ratio unavailable
11. Royal Ahold Delhaize USA
Retail sales: $43.20 billion; based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Supermarkets include Stop & Shop, Giant Carlisle, Giant Landover, Food Lion, Hannaford, and Peapod).
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashier, $8 to $9/hour
- Deli clerk, $10/hour
- Meat cutter, $28,000/year
- Bakery manager, $31,000/year
- Assistant store manager, $47,500/year
- Store manager, $61,000/year
CEO pay: $1.2 million base salary; ratio unavailable
10. Albertsons Companies
Retail sales: $59.72 billion; based in Boise, Idaho. (Eighteen grocery banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market and Carrs).
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Courtesy clerk, $9/hour
- Cashier, $10/hour
- Deli and bakery clerks, $11/hour
- Store director, $89,000/year
- Pharmacist, $121,000/year
CEO pay: $2 million base salary; ratio unavailable
9. Lowe’s Companies
Retail sales: $63.13 billion; based in Mooresville, North Carolina
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Customer service associate, $11/hour
- Head cashier, $14/hour
- Department manager, $18/hour
- Kitchen designer, $42,000/year
- Assistant store manager, $58,000/year
- Store manager, $88,000/year
CEO pay: $11.2 million, 469 times median pay of $23,905/year
8. Target
Retail sales: $71.88 billion; based in Minneapolis
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashiers, $9/hour
- Back room, sales and flow team members, $10/hour
- Team leader, $15/hour
- Executive team leader, $57,000/year
- Store manager, $108,000/year
Note: The company says it’s setting starting pay at $11/hour with the goal of raising that to $15/hour by the end of 2020.
CEO pay: $8.4 million, 408 times median pay of $20,581/year
7. CVS Health Corp.
Retail sales: $79.54 billion; based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashiers, $9/hour
- Shift supervisors, $12/hour
- Pharmacist, $60/hour
- Assistant manager, $49,000/year
- Store manager, $58,000/year
Note: CVS says it plans to raise starting pay to $11/hour.
CEO pay: $12.2 million, 320 times median pay of $38,372/year
6. Walgreens
Retail sales: $82.75 billion; based in Deerfield, Illinois
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Customer service associate, $9/hour
- Certified pharmacy techs, $12/hour
- Pharmacist, $124,749/year
- Store manager, $65,000/year
CEO pay: $14.7 million; ratio unavailable
5. The Home Depot
Retail sales: $91.91 billion; based in Atlanta
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashiers, $10/hour
- Sales associates, $11/hour
- Department supervisors, $15/hour
- Store manager, $90,677/year
CEO pay: $11.6 million, 552 times median pay of $21,095/year
4. Costco
Retail sales: $93.08 billion; based in Issaquah, Washington
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashiers and stockers, $13 to $14/hour
- Certified pharmacy tech, $18/hour
- Tire installers, $14/hour
- Meat cutter, $21/hour
- Supervisor, $26/hour
- General manager, $111,760/year
Note: The company says its average pay is $22.50/hour.
CEO pay: $6.6 million; ratio unavailable
3. Amazon
Retail sales: $102.96 billion, based in Seattle
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Warehouse workers, $13/hour
- Top-level software development engineer, $116,000/year
Note: Amazon-owned Whole Foods pays $11 to $12/hour for cashiers and produce, bakery, grocery and other specialty team members.
CEO pay: $1.6 million, 59 times the median pay of $28,446/year
2. The Kroger Company
Retail sales: $115.89 billion; based in Cincinnati. (Operating 2,769 grocery stores under the names Kroger, Smith’s, Ralphs, Food4Less, Fry’s, Fred Meyer and others).
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Cashiers, front-end clerks and courtesy clerks, $8/hour
- Grocery clerks, $9/hour
- Store manager, $63,000/year
CEO pay: $11.5 million, 547 times the median pay $21,075/year
1. Walmart
Retail sales: $374.80 billion; based in Bentonville, Arkansas
What typical jobs pay on average:
- Part-time employees, $10.58/hour
- Full-time employees, $13.38/hour
- Department managers, $13/hour
- Store managers, $101,062/year
Note: Walmart says it’s setting starting pay at $11/hour with an eye toward raising it to $15 by 2020.
CEO pay: $22.8 million, 1,188 times the median pay of $19,177/year
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