For Walmart to be the best place to shop, we also need it to be the best place to work. That idea is the North Star of our journey to build a better company for our associates. Whether we’re investing in compensation, learning and development, well-being, or resources for a simpler day at work, our commitment to associates is strong, and our goal is simple: helping them live better at every stage of their careers.
Over the past five years, we’ve increased hourly wages by around 30%, bringing our U.S. average hourly wage to close to $18. But it’s not just about pay. We’ve also invested in centers of excellence for health care, family building and adoption benefits and many other resources for mind and body. At the same time, we’ve expanded our global academies to provide more opportunities to more people, and we continue to invest in associates’ long-term financial health through our 401(k) and associate stock purchase programs, both with a company match.
Now we’re making four new investments in the associates at the heart of our business:
- Launching Associate to Technician pipeline program: With the country facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, we're creating pathways for our own associates to fill these critical jobs in our stores and supply chain facilities. We’re piloting a new Associate to Technician program with 100 associates in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that will help hourly store and supply chain associates move into facilities maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC, reliability and automation technician roles. These jobs make between $19 and $45 an hour and offer opportunities to build a meaningful career while meeting a business need for the company. This program is part of our Walmart Academy, one of the largest training ecosystems in the country.
- Doubling certificates in Live Better U: Associates have been asking for Walmart-paid education options that take less time to complete, so we now offer more than 50 skills certificates, which associates can finish in four months, on average, compared to years for a college degree. Our goal is to fast-track front-line associates into approximately 100,000 jobs that are higher-paying and in-demand for our business over the next three years. Certificates are targeted to those jobs, including salaried and hourly leadership roles in our stores, clubs and supply chain facilities – the backbone of our company – as well as roles like pharmacy technicians, opticians and software engineers in growing parts of our business.
- New bonus for hourly store associates: During Associates Week in Northwest Arkansas, we announced the latest step in our ongoing investment in associate compensation — a new bonus for eligible full- and part-time hourly store associates. This new associate bonus rewards great work and customer service and it celebrates long-term associates who build a career at Walmart: The longer an hourly store associate stays with the company, the higher their bonus potential, up to $1,000 a year.
- Total Pay and Benefits in Me@Walmart: Me@Walmart is a consumer-grade super-app that centralizes the functionality an associate needs for a better day at work. The addition of the new Total Pay and Benefits feature in the Me@Walmart app gives associates at-a-glance visibility to their pay, discounts, learning opportunities and benefits with the goal of friction-free access to tools and resources for a better life.
These investments are all part of our people-led, tech-powered commitment to Walmart associates. We believe in them and their potential. We know that when they’re given the right tools, opportunities for growth and investments in their personal well-being, they can accomplish more than they imagined personally and professionally.
Our founder, Sam Walton, said it well: “There’s absolutely no limit to what ordinary people can accomplish if they’re given the opportunity and encouragement to do their best.”
