Target vs. Walmart - Which One Is a Better Place to Work?
By Lydia Dishman
Attention Target Team members, did you ever wonder how your job stacks up against similar positions at the world’s largest retailer Walmart? Though the two chains may have different corporate cultures, according to PayScale, the rivals’ rank and file have plenty in common, in addition to stocking scads of discounted merchandise. Online salary database PayScale.com recently released a new set of employer information, based on survey responses from employees from a variety of companies, including large retailers. For instance, did you know that Target and Walmart are nearly equal in terms of the gender split between their employees? Fifty-three percent of Target’s workforce is female, while women make up 59 percent of Walmart’s staff. And though their respective headquarters are on opposite sides of the map (Walmart makes its home in Bentonville, Ark.; Target is located in Minneapolis, Minn.) the two count the great state of Texas, especially Houston, as having the biggest concentration of employees. And, according to PayScale, both groups of employees report that they have been schooled at University of Phoenix more often than any other institution. Among both workforces, the skill sets are also aligned. Most of the staff at both retailers is well-versed in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Word. Use of customer service metrics is also common, however more of Target’s employees are proficient in project management and leadership skills while Walmart staff concentrates on developing its sales and retail pharmacy knowledge. Where the two differ –but not by much—are in what they pay employees. Target offers bigger wages for salaried workers, but hourly employees such as cashiers earn the same at both retailers. Here’s a comparison of eight popular positions and the median wage for each. 1. Greeter/Floor Sales Representative Target: $6.77 - $12.06 Walmart: $6.98 - $12.18 per hour 2. Cashier Target: $7.38 - $10.27 per hour Walmart: $7.30 - $10.40 per hour 3. Retail Store Assistant Manager Target: $48,003 per year Walmart: $42,134 per year 4. Retail Store Manager Target: $65,960 per year Walmart: $60,326 per year 5. Retail Pharmacist Target: $114,492 per year Walmart: $106,138 per year 6. Department Manager, Retail Store Target: $48,457 per year Walmart: $29,211 per year 7. Customer Service Sales Associate Target: $7.34 - $16.76 per hour Walmart: $7.79 - $12.75 per hour 8. Laborer, Freight, Stock, Material Mover Target: $6.93 - $14.08 per hour Walmart: $7.35 - $14.90 per hour As for time off, Target starts out by offering slightly more vacation for workers with less than a year’s tenure. Those with one year of experience at the store typically get a week off with pay. At Walmart, it’s the same. The biggest disparity between Walmart and Target are in employee bonuses. Walmart is much more generous for some positions, offering its assistant store managers $2,948 as opposed to Target’s $2,457. Store managers at Walmart get a whopping $9,958, nearly double Target’s $4,880 for the same job. There’s one other discrepancy to note. More than half of Target employees, 51 percent, report that they are overachievers. Walmart, on the other hand, had only 44 percent declare themselves highly motivated, dedicated workers.
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