How much the typical worker made last year at 16 top retailers, from Amazon to Walmart

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The retail industry is a massive engine of the US economy, employing roughly one in 10 workers today. However, its influence is even broader: according to the Urban Institute, 60% of Americans have worked in retail at some point in their lives. While often viewed as a starting point, it is a viable career path where several top CEOs famously climbed the ladder from hourly roles to the boardroom.

To understand the current financial landscape for these workers, Business Insider analyzed 2025 proxy statements from publicly traded retailers with market caps exceeding $10 billion. Because many of these companies rely heavily on part-time and seasonal labor, median pay fluctuates significantly across the sector.

The 2025 Retail Pay Scale

Ranked from lowest to highest median annual compensation.

Entry-Level & Discount Retail

At the lower end of the spectrum, high concentrations of part-time staff result in lower median annual earnings.

  • Ross Stores ($10,059): With 85% of its workforce in stores, the median worker is a part-time associate.

  • Burlington ($10,827): Similarly driven by part-time store roles.

  • Ulta Beauty ($11,883): Calculated from a global workforce of over 61,000 associates.

  • Dollar General ($18,876): Based on a pool of over 185,000 US employees.

Fast Food & Quick Service

The "franchise model" giants show varied results based on how they count their international and part-time staff.

  • Yum Brands ($15,346): The median worker is a part-time Taco Bell employee in the US. Notably, 80% of their managers are promoted from within.

  • Starbucks ($17,279): The median role is a part-time US barista. Unlike competitors, Starbucks directly employs 367,000 people.

  • McDonald's ($19,020): This median figure represents a crew member in Poland.

Big Box & Specialty Retail

As roles transition toward more full-time hours and specialized skills, the median pay climbs toward the $30k–$40k range.

  • Tractor Supply Co. ($24,376): About half of their 51,000 employees work part-time.

  • Walmart ($30,520): As the world’s largest private employer (2.1 million staff), Walmart’s median reflects a mix of global roles.

  • O'Reilly Auto Parts ($33,054): Reflects a primarily US-based workforce of nearly 90,000.

  • Lowe’s ($37,371) & Home Depot ($37,881): Both home improvement giants report their median worker as a full-time hourly associate in the US.

The Industry Leaders

The top of the list is dominated by delivery logistics and wholesale models that favor higher hourly rates or more consistent full-time hours.

  • Domino’s ($36,776): Interestingly, their median worker is a part-time driver working under 30 hours a week.

  • Amazon ($40,206): While the global median is $40k, the US full-time median is $53,211. If benefits are included, Amazon reports fulfillment wages exceed $30 per hour.

  • Costco ($49,186): Consistently a leader in retail compensation, Costco’s median full-time worker earned $66,262 last year.

Key Takeaway: In the retail sector, "median pay" is heavily dictated by the ratio of part-time to full-time staff. While the floor remains near $10,000 for seasonal help, established full-time roles at companies like Costco and Amazon are pushing the industry's ceiling toward a middle-class wage.

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