How much does Target pay per hour?
Target publishes two numbers that answer the question:
- Starting pay of $15 to $24 an hour. The exact rate depends on the role and the store’s location. Target set this range in 2022 and still lists it in its pay and benefits fact sheet, updated April 13, 2026.
- An average above $18.50 an hour. That is the average wage for Target’s frontline team members, from the same fact sheet.
The gap between the two is normal. A starting rate is what a new hire earns on day one, while an average blends in team members with years of tenure and team leads. If you are applying for an entry-level store job, plan around the starting range for your area.
What sets your starting rate at Target?
Two things move your offer within the $15 to $24 range:
- The role. Target says the rate depends on the job, so two openings at the same store can start at different rates.
- The location. Target says pay also depends on location, so the same job can start at a different rate in another city or state.
State and local law can also lift the floor. If a state’s minimum wage is above $15, Target must pay at least that rate there. More on that below.
Target pay at a glance
| Item | What Target says | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Starting pay | $15 to $24 an hour, by role and location | April 13, 2026 |
| Average frontline wage | Above $18.50 an hour | April 13, 2026 |
| Health benefit eligibility | 25 hours a week for hourly team members | April 13, 2026 |
| 401(k) match | Dollar for dollar up to 5% of eligible pay, immediate vesting | April 13, 2026 |
| Early pay access | DailyPay app for earned but unpaid wages | October 2026 |
| Paid family leave | Up to four weeks at 100% pay replacement for eligible team members | October 2026 |
Target says team members gain access to most of its pay and benefits offerings on day one, though eligibility can vary by position, average hours worked and length of service.
What benefits add to Target pay?
Several Target benefits put real money back in your pocket:
- 401(k) match. Target matches dollar for dollar up to 5% of eligible pay, and the match vests immediately. At $18.50 an hour for 40 hours a week, a full 5% match is worth $1,924 a year.
- Health coverage at 25 hours. Hourly team members qualify for health benefits at 25 hours a week. Target also offers no-cost 24/7 virtual care through CirrusMD.
- Team member discount. You get 10% off at Target stores and Target.com, plus 20% off wellness products and 20% off adult owned-brand apparel and accessories. A Target Circle Card adds another 5%.
- Education. Dream to Be offers about 500 certificate, bootcamp and degree programs from more than 40 schools, many tuition-free. Target says more than 10,000 team members have graduated.
- Time off and leave. Eligible team members receive paid time off, sick pay and paid national holidays, plus up to four weeks of paid family leave. Target also reimburses up to $10,000 per child for eligible adoption expenses.
How often does Target pay?
Target’s public pay pages do not state a payday schedule, so ask your recruiter or HR team which pay cycle your store uses.
What Target does publish is DailyPay. The app lets eligible team members choose when to receive wages they have already earned, so pay for hours worked today can arrive the next business day. Target says enrollment and transfers are free.
How much is Target pay per year?
Multiply your hourly rate by your weekly hours, then by 52 weeks. The 25-hour column matters at Target because that is the health benefits threshold.
| Hourly rate | What it represents | 25 hours a week | 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | Bottom of the starting range | $19,500 | $31,200 |
| $18.50 | Frontline average | $24,050 | $38,480 |
| $24.00 | Top of the starting range | $31,200 | $49,920 |
These are gross amounts before taxes. Overtime adds to them: under federal law, covered nonexempt employees earn at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, so at $18.50 an hour, each overtime hour pays at least $27.75.
To see take-home pay at the low end of the range in every state, read what $15 an hour is per year. If you are weighing a part-time schedule, our guide to how many hours is part time explains how hours affect benefits.
How does Target pay compare with minimum wage?
Target’s $15 floor is more than double the $7.25 federal minimum wage. How it compares with your state depends on where you live.
The Florida minimum wage reached $15.00 on September 30, 2026, which now matches the bottom of Target’s range. In Washington, the state minimum is $17.13 in 2026, and several cities there set higher local rates, so the Washington minimum wage sets a higher starting floor for Target stores there. Check the minimum wage in your state for the rate where you would work.
Against the wider retail market, Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025 puts the national median at $17.03 an hour for retail salespersons and $15.81 for cashiers. Target’s reported average above $18.50 sits higher than both.
Is Target pay higher than Walmart pay?
Based on each company’s own published figures, the two are close:
| Figure | Target | Walmart |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level store pay | $15 to $24 an hour by role and location (April 2026) | Team Associate range of $14 to $37 an hour (October 2026) |
| Average frontline hourly pay | Above $18.50 (April 2026) | More than $18.50 (October 2026) |
| 401(k) match | Up to 5% of eligible pay, immediate vesting | Up to 6% of eligible pay once eligible |
Target’s published floor is $1 higher than Walmart’s store floor, while Walmart’s match can reach a higher percentage of pay. Neither number decides an offer on its own. Compare the posted rate for the same role in the same town, the hours each store schedules and how soon benefits start.
How can you earn more at Target?
Target does not publish a promotion timeline, but its own pages point to several ways to raise what you take home:
- Aim for the higher end of the range. Because starting pay depends on role, compare postings at the same store. Some jobs start well above $15.
- Reach 25 hours a week. Crossing that line makes you eligible for health benefits, which can be worth more than a small hourly difference.
- Take the full 401(k) match. Contributing 5% of pay doubles that money right away, with no vesting wait.
- Use Dream to Be. A tuition-free certificate or degree can qualify you for higher-paying roles inside or outside Target.
- Ask about more hours. In a September 16, 2026 fact sheet, Target said it invested hundreds of millions of dollars this year in additional store payroll and is testing new staffing levels in some departments.
Target’s careers pages also feature team leader roles in stores, so ask your manager what skills and reviews those openings require.
How do you prepare for a Target interview?
Read the posting first so you know the duties and schedule for that store. Then practice with our Target interview quiz, which covers questions you are likely to hear based on Target’s published job requirements.
Be ready to talk about your availability and the hours you want. At Target, hours decide your benefits, so it is fair to ask about them before you accept:
“Could you tell me the starting rate for this role, how many hours a week it is usually scheduled, and whether that schedule reaches the 25 hours needed for health benefits?”
JobQuix is not affiliated with Target. Pay and hiring practices change; check the company’s careers site for current details.