How much does Costco pay per hour?
Costco states its pay in its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which makes its figures easier to date than most employers’.
- Average: about $33.00 an hour. That is the average rate for Costco’s U.S. hourly employees at the end of fiscal 2026, which closed August 30, 2026.
- Starting: at least $20.00 an hour. In March 2025, Costco raised its starting wage by $0.50 to at least $20.00 an hour for all entry-level positions in the U.S. and Canada.
The fiscal 2026 report says Costco raised the top of its wage scales again in March 2026 but does not give a new starting rate. Until Costco discloses one, $20.00 is the latest company-stated floor, so ask the hiring team for the current starting rate at your local warehouse.
Costco pay at a glance
| Figure | Amount | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting wage, entry-level jobs (U.S. and Canada) | At least $20.00 an hour | Since March 2025 | Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K |
| Top-of-scale raise | +$1.00 an hour | March 2025 | Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K |
| Top-of-scale raise | +$1.00 an hour | March 2026 | Fiscal 2026 Form 10-K |
| Average U.S. hourly rate | About $32.00 an hour | End of fiscal 2025 (August 31, 2025) | Fiscal 2025 Form 10-K |
| Average U.S. hourly rate | About $33.00 an hour | End of fiscal 2026 (August 30, 2026) | Fiscal 2026 Form 10-K |
Costco employed 232,000 people in the U.S. at the end of fiscal 2026. It also reports a retention rate of about 94% in 2026 for U.S. and Canada employees with at least one year of service.
The average is well above the starting wage because Costco’s pay scale rewards time on the job, as the next section explains.
How does Costco pay go up over time?
Costco’s careers site describes three ways hourly pay grows:
- Raises based on hours. Costco says it offers competitive hourly wages with regular increases based on accumulated hours. The more hours you work, the sooner you move up the scale.
- Twice-yearly payments for tenure. Tenured hourly employees receive additional compensation twice a year based on their years of service.
- Leadership pay. Supervisors and managers receive additional compensation for their leadership roles.
The scale also moves as a whole. Costco added $1.00 an hour to the top of its wage scales in March 2025 and again in March 2026, according to its two most recent annual reports.
What benefits come with Costco pay?
Costco lists these benefits on its careers site, checked in October 2026:
- Health care for part-timers too. Costco offers health, dental, vision, pharmacy and hearing aid coverage to full-time and part-time employees. Spouses, children and domestic partners are also eligible.
- Retirement and stock. A 401(k) plan and an employee stock purchase plan.
- Time off. Paid sick and vacation time, eight paid holidays and one paid floating holiday, plus paid bonding leave.
- Insurance. Life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
- Scholarships. Scholarship funds for qualifying part-time and full-time employees.
- Predictable schedules. Weekly schedules are posted at least three weeks in advance, and Costco guarantees minimum scheduled hours for full-time and part-time employees.
Costco’s public pages do not give 401(k) contribution formulas or benefit waiting periods. Ask during your interview or read the plan summary you receive at hire.
How much is Costco pay per year?
Multiply the hourly rate by your weekly hours, then by 52 weeks.
| Hourly rate | What it represents | 30 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20.00 | Starting wage since March 2025 | $31,200 | $41,600 |
| $32.00 | U.S. average, end of fiscal 2025 | $49,920 | $66,560 |
| $33.00 | U.S. average, end of fiscal 2026 | $51,480 | $68,640 |
These are gross figures before taxes and do not include the twice-yearly tenure payments. For take-home pay at the starting rate in each state, see what $20 an hour is per year.
Hours matter as much as the rate. Costco aims for at least half of its workforce to be full-time employees, so ask whether an opening is full-time or part-time and compare it with our guide to how many hours is full time.
How does Costco pay compare with minimum wage?
Costco’s $20.00 starting wage is above the 2026 minimum wage in every state. The highest state rate is the Washington minimum wage at $17.13 an hour, and Washington is Costco’s home state. The California minimum wage is $16.90.
Some cities set local minimums above their state rate, so always check the minimum wage where you live before you compare offers.
Costco also pays well above typical retail wages. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025 puts the national median at $15.81 an hour for cashiers, $17.03 for retail salespersons and $17.95 for stockers and order fillers. Costco’s $20.00 floor beats all three medians, and its $33.00 average is more than double the cashier median.
How does Costco pay compare with other big employers?
Each large employer publishes a different kind of figure, so line them up carefully. This table uses only numbers the companies themselves have released:
| Company | Published starting pay | Published average hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Costco | At least $20.00 (March 2025) | About $33.00, U.S. hourly employees (August 30, 2026) |
| Amazon | $20 for full-time core operations roles (September 16, 2026) | Nearly $24, core operations (September 16, 2026) |
| Target | $15 to $24 by role and location (April 13, 2026) | Above $18.50, frontline team members (April 13, 2026) |
| Walmart | Team Associate range starts at $14 (October 2026) | $18.00, U.S. overall (January 31, 2026) |
| Home Depot | At least $15 (August 28, 2026 report) | Not published |
Costco’s starting wage ties Amazon’s full-time floor, and its average is the highest in the group by a wide margin. Keep in mind that an average reflects tenure as well as pay rates. Costco’s pay rises with hours worked, and the company reports a high retention rate, so a new hire will start well below the $33.00 average.
How do you find the pay for a specific Costco job?
- Search Costco’s careers site for your warehouse. Read the posting for the exact role and location you want.
- Ask where the role starts on the scale. Costco’s scale rises with accumulated hours, so ask what the starting rate is and how many hours it takes to reach the next step.
- Confirm full-time or part-time. Hours drive both your yearly total and how fast you move up.
A direct question during the interview keeps it simple:
“Could you walk me through the starting rate for this position and how the pay scale increases with hours worked?”
How can you raise your pay at Costco?
Costco’s own descriptions point to a few practical steps:
- Work steady hours. Because raises are tied to accumulated hours, working more hours moves you up the scale sooner.
- Stay through your service anniversaries. Tenured hourly employees earn the twice-yearly service payments.
- Move into a supervisor role. Supervisors and managers receive additional compensation.
- Plan for promotion from within. Costco says the vast majority of its warehouse managers worldwide began their Costco careers in hourly positions, and its annual report lists promoting from within as a commitment.
Ask your hiring manager how the pay scale works for your position and where the next increase falls.
How do you prepare for a Costco interview?
Read the posting for the warehouse and department you want. Then practice with our Costco interview quiz, which covers questions you are likely to hear based on Costco’s published job requirements.
Be ready to discuss your availability and whether you want full-time or part-time hours, since hours affect both raises and scheduling at Costco.
JobQuix is not affiliated with Costco. Pay and hiring practices change; check the company’s careers site for current details.