Wanna Work for Costco? Here's How Much You Can Make
Costco is one of the biggest retailers in the United States, boasting more than 640 warehouses nationwide. With so many locations, the company offers many career opportunities for interested job seekers.
Costco employs cashiers and stockers, as well as pharmacists, software engineers and release managers among others. If you're looking for a new job, consider these roles at Costco.
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Retail
Costco's retail department employees typically work directly with customers or oversee their store location. Some of the opportunities in this department include the following roles.
Cashier
Cashiers at Costco make a minimum of $20 per hour, while experienced cashiers can earn closer to $30 per hour (though this can vary by location). Either way, that's well above the national minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and above the minimum wage in every state.
Costco cashiers are responsible for providing excellent customer service and processing transactions at the point of sale. If customers have any questions about Costco products or discounts, cashiers may assist them. The cashiers also need to keep their stations clean and organized.
Gas Station Attendant
Costco is known for its discounted gas, which is often significantly cheaper than the local average price. At Costco's gas stations in New Jersey and Oregon, where customers do not pump their own gas, gas station attendants provide customer service. They pump gas, process transactions and keep the station clean.
The minimum salary for a Costco gas attendant is $19 per hour, which is about 25% higher than the national average for gas attendants.
Front-End Manager
Front-end managers at Costco are responsible for overseeing everything from the parking lot to the sales floor. They manage the other retail workers, like the cashiers and stockers, ensure proper inventory levels and handle any problems that arise during their shifts.
A front-end manager's average salary at Costco is $30 per hour.
Pharmacy
Costco warehouses also have pharmacies where customers can pick up their prescriptions. Jobs available in the Costco pharmacy include the following positions.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. They provide service to pharmacy customers, assist the pharmacists and maintain the work area.
The average salary for a Costco pharmacy technician is around $24 per hour.
Pharmacist
To work as a Costco pharmacist, you need a doctor of pharmacy degree and a license. These pharmacists dispense medications, collaborate with healthcare providers and manage the pharmacy's inventory levels.
Pharmacists at Costco make $74-$79 per hour on average.
Software Development
Costco's software development department creates and maintains the software the company needs. Positions in this department are some of the highest paying at Costco.
Software Engineer
Software engineers at Costco need front-end and back-end software expertise. They design and build technology solutions that support Costco's growth. This role requires collaborating effectively with team members and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
On average, software engineers at Costco earn around $120,000 annually.
Release Manager
Costco's release managers are in charge of introducing changes to infrastructure and applications. They make sure these changes are in place without disrupting the existing systems. Release managers coordinate with all impacted users and teams to make these transitions as smooth as possible.
The average salary for a release manager at Costco is $118,323 annually.
Perks of Working at Costco
Beyond wages, Costco also offers employees a variety of benefits, such as:
Healthcare and dental care
Guaranteed minimum scheduled hours
Paid bonding leave
Employee stock purchase plans
Life insurance
Paid sick and vacation time
Eight paid holidays plus one paid floating holiday
When evaluating any job opportunities, consider the value of the benefits package as well as the salary. Depending on your needs and preferences, a job with better benefits and a slightly lower salary may be the better option.
You should also consider the work environment at any potential workplace. For example, Costco employees find their work more enjoyable and satisfying than the average employee, according to survey results from Indeed. Work well-being can be an intangible benefit that makes one employer preferable to another.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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