7 Things You Might Not Know About Working at Walmart  

Planning for the new year ahead always inspires a moment of reflection on the year we left behind, especially when it comes to creating new opportunities and pathways for success for associates. What can we do more of, do better, do differently?  

From manager training academies and the expansion of our Associate-to-Driver program, to increased pay and access to virtual health care benefits, in 2023, Walmart rolled out a number of resources to help associates thrive both at work and at home, and we’re excited for how they are shaping our associate experience for the better. 

We’ve highlighted seven of our favorites, below.   

🧠  1. We Shared Plans to Remove College Degree Requirements for Most Campus Jobs  

There are many ways to learn and pick up skills in your career, from getting a degree to serving in the military to gaining on-the-job experience – and more. We have long not required degrees for the majority of Walmart store, Sam’s Club and supply chain jobs, and now we’re rewriting job descriptions for many of our campus jobs to make degrees optional and factor in the skills people possess alongside the degrees they hold.  

This is part of our  transition to a skills-based approach. 

Why it matters: Making degrees optional creates an either/or option for an applicant: to be considered for a job, you can have a related college degree or possess the skills and experience needed for the job, whether through previous experience or other forms of learning.

⤴️ 2.  We Continued to Raise Wages for Frontline Associates 

Walmart invested in higher wages for its associates in 2023, bringing our U.S. average hourly wage to more than $17.50.  

What to Know:  

• Frontline store associates: We made targeted investments in starting rates for thousands of store associates early in the year. 
• Overnight coaches (managers): We raised wages for 5,000 overnight coaches who ensure items and stores are ready for the next day. 
• Pharmacists: We raised pay for approximately 3,700 pharmacists, who now make an average of over $140,000 a year not including bonuses and incentives. 
• Opticians: We raised pay for 4,000 opticians, bringing their average wage to more than $22.50 an hour.  

Every day, we continue to strengthen our jobs and invest in our people.  

🧮  3. We Introduced a New Leadership Training for Frontline Managers 

We launched a new, in-person, immersive leadership training program for store, club and supply chain leaders. Through the training, managers develop core leadership skills, discover more about Walmart’s history and culture and have the opportunity to meet and learn from company leaders.  

Bottom line: Managers play the biggest role in running a successful business with happy customers, members and associates. That’s why we’re doubling down on helping them grow as leaders – the kind who can excel in a world and work environment that is changing fast. Learn  more.  

 👏🏼  4. We Expanded our Associate-to-Driver Program to Store and Club Frontline Associates  

We expanded eligibility to our Associate-to-Driver program to include frontline store and Sam’s Club associates, in addition to supply chain associates. The program pays for associates to earn their commercial driver’s license and become Walmart truck drivers, earning up to $110,000 in their first year.  

What it means: No matter where you are in your career journey, starting here can open doors – providing the first step into jobs that become  careers. Learn more: The wheel is within reach.  

 🎤  5.  We Launched New GenAI Tools To Empower and Support Associates 

We  launched a GenAI tool  called My Assistant to Walmart campus associates in the U.S., harnessing the power of this new tech to help make our associates’ jobs easier and allow them to focus on more meaningful work. 

What to know: We believe it will take both people and technology to deliver on our purpose to help people save money and live better. While GenAI can help us work faster and more efficiently, our people make the difference for out-of-the-box, truly brand-new thinking.

🌟 6. We Launched Sensory-Friendly Shopping Hours at All Stores 

During the back-to-school season, we tested sensory-friendly hours  from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. local time on Saturdays. The sensory-friendly hours were so well-received by both associates and customers, we decided to make them permanent every day at all Walmart U.S. and Puerto Rico stores.  

What to Know: During sensory-friendly hours, stores dim their lights, turn off their radios and display static images on TV sets to help people with sensory disabilities feel like they belong. 

♥️ 7. We Increased Access to Virtual Primary Care Benefits for U.S. Associates

Walmart made it easier and simpler for associates to see a doctor with the expansion of virtual primary care. And this year, associates will have options for digestive health, physical therapy and basic at-home lab work, too. Most virtual health care benefits are available at no cost to associates enrolled in a Walmart self-insured medical plan.  

More details: Walmart’s innovative journey of redefining healthcare began a while ago, and we continue to work to remove barriers like cost and time. Learn  more.