The last time I wrote about the federal minimum wage was 2016. At that time, Walmart had just announced that it was going to raise its hourly salary to at least $9.00 an hour – causing its stock to plummet 10 percent. Today their website states that Walmart is “continuously investing in higher wages, and the average hourly wage for our U.S. frontline associates is more than $17.50.” Walmart’s starting salary recently went to $14.00 an hour, and Target has had a $15 an hour starting salary since 2020.
Despite these changes, the federal minimum wage remains at the unrealistic $7.25 an hour – and it hasn’t changed in over a decade. Some states – and cities – have taken action by setting their own minimum to reflect both the employment market and the cost of living. In Washington, California and Massachusetts, for example, the minimum is $15 or more per hour, and a dozen more states will be joining them this year.
Both the high starting salaries of big box stores and the chaos of the minimum wage regulations have an impact on the hiring practices of independent retailers. It is hard to know what to offer, especially because keeping up with workplaces like Walmart and Target is challenging for many small businesses. You may find it helpful to see if other stores like yours are listing a wage in their help wanted ads. If you feel comfortable doing so, ask your retail colleagues to share this information.
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