Walmart is a significant player in the retail industry, employing over 1.5 million workers in the US alone. This makes them the largest private employer in the country and in various states. In fact, Walmart employs more workers than the combined total of the next three largest physical retailers: Target, Kroger, and Home Depot.
The typical Walmart employee is likely to be a woman, as 53% of the company's hourly workers are female. In terms of ethnicity, approximately half of the employees identify as Caucasian, while the other half identify as non-Caucasian. The average age of a Walmart employee is around 39, putting them in the category of an "elder millennial".
While Walmart has over 5,200 locations across all 50 states, the highest density of stores can be found near Dallas, Texas. The state of Texas is home to about 500 Walmart stores and over 175,000 workers. A typical worker at Walmart's Supercenter in this region is likely to be either a stocker, responsible for restocking shelves, or a digital picker, fulfilling orders for online shoppers.
Despite being considered a "typical" retail worker in terms of demographics, the job itself is anything but ordinary. With the sheer volume of sales that a typical Supercenter generates, it can feel like a constant holiday rush. More than two-thirds of Walmart's hourly workers are full-time employees, working an average of at least 34 hours per week. This is higher than the industry average of less than 30 hours. Full-time employees who work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for health benefits.
Interestingly, Walmart employees tend to stay with the company for a relatively long time, averaging five years of tenure. This highlights the company's efforts to create opportunities for advancement within the organization. In fact, three-quarters of Walmart's salaried managers started their careers in hourly roles, demonstrating the potential for growth.
It's worth noting that some Walmart employees in Illinois, who asked to remain anonymous, have other jobs in addition to their work at Walmart. With flexible shift options and extended store hours, some employees are able to work a regular nine-to-five job and still take shifts at Walmart during evenings and weekends.
While Walmart does not keep track of how many jobs its associates hold, it is estimated that around 5% of all US workers have multiple jobs. In terms of compensation, the typical Walmart employee in Texas likely earns around $18.12 per hour, slightly higher than the US average wage of $17.50. With a 35-hour average workweek, this would translate to an annual salary of approximately $33,000.