California is raising its minimum wage again. These SLO retailers already pay more
California’s new minimum wage goes into effect in just over a month. But some retailers are already offering a higher starting pay.
The national average wage for cashiers is $13.81. The median hourly wage for cashiers is $13.58, or $28,240 annually, according to 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In California, the hourly average wage for cashiers was $16.81. The state has the most people working as cashiers at 390,590.
The current minimum wage in California is $15.50. That will increase to $16 on Jan. 1, according to the state’s Department of Industrial Relations. Some counties and cities have higher requirements. The minimum wage for fast food workers will rise to $20 an hour in 2024.
Some companies also pay more than the state requires. Costco, for example, raised its minimum wage to $17 an hour in 2021, CNN and Business Insider reported.
If you work a 40-hour week, the $15.50 minimum comes out to roughly $31,200. That’s lower than what MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates an individual would need to meet basic needs, such as child care, housing and food. A living wage for one adult without children in California would be $21.24.
Here’s how much some of the state’s largest retailers pay their employees:
Retailer wages in California
Target: In 2022, Target increased its starting wage range. It’s now $15 to $24. A cashier role in San Luis Obispo starts at $17.50 an hour.
Walmart: The average hourly pay for frontline associates at Walmart is more than $17.50, the company posted on its site. A Walmart cashier could earn between $17 to $24.
The Home Depot: The home improvement company announced in February it was increasing the starting pay to or above $15 an hour across the U.S. In California, where the minimum wage is higher, employees earn more. A cashier at The Home Depot in San Luis Obispo could earn between $19 to $20 an hour.
Lowe’s Home Improvement: The pay range for a cashier at Lowe’s is between $15.50 to $18.60 an hour, according to a California job posting.
Kohl’s: A seasonal retail sales associate at Kohl’s could earn between $16.75 and $24.20 an hour in San Luis Obispo.
Apple: An Apple store employee could earn between $23 and $28.79, according to a job posting for the San Luis Obispo location.
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