Walmart is one of the most successful multinational retail corporations in the world with branches in 27 countries. With high profit margins, employers are pretty happy with their revenue, but are Walmart employees happy with their average salaries?
According to Walmart’s website, a full-time hourly Walmart employee earns an average of USD 12.78 per hour in the United States. However, according to the IBISWorld research, an average sales associate actually earns around USD 8.81 per hour, making less than the Federal Poverty Level for a family of four, annually.
Walmart is the second largest public corporation in the world as per the 2013 Fortune Global 500 list. Not only this, it is also the largest retailer in the world and has employed more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Under 69 different banners, Walmart has over 11,000 stores in 27 countries. According to their website, they promote around 170,000 people worldwide to jobs with greater responsibilities and a higher pay every year.
Out of the 2.2 million associates, 1.3 million work in the United States alone – amounting to approximately 1% of the total population in the US. Though the company claims that they provide approximately 300 jobs with a “good pay”, and other benefits whenever they open a Walmart Supercenter in America, the fact is many Walmart workers are underpaid and, therefore, need to utilize state-subsidized benefits.
Average Salary of a Walmart Employee
| Sales Associate – Hourly 358 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 8.84/hr |
| Guest Service Team Member – Cashier – Hourly 245 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 8.48/hr |
| Wal Mart Cashier – Hourly 174 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 8.53/hr |
| Department Manager – Hourly 145 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 11.16/hr |
| Overnight Stocker – Hourly 124 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 9.59/hr |
| Cashier Associate – Hourly 107 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 8.71/hr |
| Associate – Hourly 105 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 9.21/hr |
| Customer Service Manager (CSM) – Hourly 96 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 10.30/hr |
| Electronic Sales Associate – Hourly 78 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 9.20/hr |
| Walmart Cashier – Hourly 61 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 8.71/hr |
| Customer Service Manager – Hourly 61 Walmart Stores Salaries in US |
USD 10.38/hr |
Source: glassdoor.com
* Note:
- All figures are as of July 2013.
- Salaries may vary based on location, years of experience, and/or other factors.
A lot has been heard of and read about the dissatisfaction of Walmart employees when it comes to poor salaries, lack of employee benefits, poor working conditions, and inadequate health care provisions. Apparently, all the health insurance packages provided are very expensive for the employees to choose from. The company has also been accused of racial and gender discrimination.
According to a survey conducted at Walmart, around 70 percent of the employees leave their job within the first 12 months – courtesy the inadequate pay and failure of the company to give employee recognition. Walmart has a very strict policy against the formation of unions. In fact, they support the “Open Door Policy” which gives any employee the freedom to walk up and speak to the higher management in case of any concerns. However, some employees were quoted as jokingly saying, “Open your mouth and they’ll show you the door policy,” depicting that employees who express their concerns are fired.
A recent news published at Forbes quoted a customer service manager of Wal-Mart, Janet Sparks, who highlighted the following fact in a Wal-Mart shareholders conference.
“Walmart CEO Mike Duke made over $20 million last year – more than 1,000 times the average Wal-Mart worker.” She said. “With all due respect, I don’t think that’s right.”
Sparks works at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana store, and said that in the last five years, associates working with her have received only two quarterly bonuses. The most recent one being for USD 26.17. According to The Huffington Post, it would take more than 785 years for a full-time hourly Walmart employee – earning “USD 12.78” per hour as per the company’s website – to earn the CEO’s annual salary. If you’ve noticed, the calculation is based on a higher salary figure (USD 12.78/hr), not the actual one (USD 8.81/hr)!
Walmart generated a revenue of USD 469.162 billion as of 2013. Critics believe that one of the reasons for their high turnover is an underpaid workforce. However, Walmart denies these allegations.