After a week of announcements of major layoffs of Amazon, UPS, PinterestAnd Nikeat least some American workers received good news Thursday: Walmart is promoting 3,000 of its pharmacy employees at nearly 4,600 locations across the United States, and some will receive up to 86% raises.
The world’s largest retailer and a leading Fortune 500 company promoted these workers to pharmaceutical operations team leader positions that pay an average of $28 per hour, with the opportunity to earn up to $42 per hour. Pharmacy technicians now earn an average of $22 per hour and can earn up to $40.50 per hour, an 86% pay increase.
Which is also encouraging at a time when younger generations are we are starting to question the return on investment of higher education is that these jobs do not require a college degree. Walmart fully funds the certifications, with more than 22,000 associates trained since 2016.
Assuming these employees work 40 hours per week, they could earn more than $87,000 per year. That’s nearly 34 percent more than the average American earns, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pharmacy associates also have access to Walmart benefits, including health coverage, 401(k) plans with 6% company matching, paid time off (including parental leave), and an associate discount. This year, Walmart also helped its workers by give employees a 10% all year round rebate, the latest in a series of moves by outgoing CEO Doug McMillon to increase worker pay.
Lisa Simon, chief economist at a workforce intelligence company Revelio Laboratoriessaid Fortune This is a smart financial move on Walmart’s part, given that it has become increasingly expensive and time-consuming to hire credentialed pharmacy staff.
“Promoting from within allows Walmart to control labor costs while retaining workers who already have institutional knowledge of store operations and customers,” Simon said. “Paying for certification is often less expensive than competing for external recruitment. »
A Walmart spokesperson also said Fortune it’s “very easy” for Walmart associates in other positions to move into pharmacy jobs. A pharmacy salesperson is a cashier, with direct access to pharmacy technician positions, with pay ranging from $18 per hour to $40.50/hour, depending on location. Hourly associates earn an average of $18.25/hour, the Walmart spokesperson said.
And regarding Simon’s point about uplifting workers instead of hiring from the outside, Christina Muller, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Mind Your Workplace, also said Fortune Walmart’s decision makes cultural sense.
“Promotions at all levels and pay increases send a powerful psychological signal: You matter,” Muller said. “Decades of workplace research show that with actions like these, engagement increases, turnover decreases, and productivity improves. The demands of pharmacy work are already high, and this type of investment acts as a shock absorber in a tax system.”
Walmart Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Kevin Host said it was also a gesture to recognize their hard work.
“This investment is truly about supporting the pharmacy teams that show up in their communities every day,” Host said in a statement. statement. A Walmart spokesperson said Fortune the company will also continue to increase its pharmacy technician workforce.
The promotion and raise announcements also mark one of the latest moves by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon as head of the world’s largest retailer. He is set to retire this week after decades thereand leaves behind an impressive track record of raising workers’ wages, having made several major salary adjustments during his tenure. In 2025, Walmart reported the average hourly wage for a US associate was about $18.25, and McMillon said hourly wages in the United States had increased more than 90 percent over the previous decade. Even though inflation has risen sharply over the past decade, it increased by around 35% between 2015 and 2025.
Walmart’s Healthcare Expansion Strategy
While the announcements of promotions and raises are good news for Walmart employees, they also reflect how the retail giant is diving headfirst into health care.
The initiative strengthens Walmart’s growing health and wellness footprint, including services such as Better Care Services, LillyDirect Integration and pharmacy delivery. The changes allow pharmacists to focus more on patient care while improving access outside of normal hours, when 75% of testing and treatment takes place.
The move also comes after other major pharmacies are showing signs of struggling. CVS has reduced hours at two-thirds of its pharmacies due to staff shortages and stores closed in 2025while Walgreens limits hours and closes stores.
Now Walmart will compete with Amazon, the world’s second-largest company, which favors same-day delivery and specialty medications. Walmart insists, however, that in-person trust and accessibility in thousands of communities helps.
“We want care to be simple and close to home,” Host said. “Our pharmacists and technicians make this possible. It’s through them that customers can count on us as a trusted, one-stop destination for wellness.”
Simon also said she sees Walmart as a viable competitor in the pharmacy business.
“While online pharmacies continue to gain ground in convenience and delivery, brick-and-mortar pharmacies continue to compete on access, trust and in-person care,” she said. “Having a stable, well-trained workforce is essential to this value proposition. »
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
