The Employee Benefits You Should Consider Before Applying to Costco

Costco Wholesale employs 304,000 people worldwide. It’s a multinational corporation, and the warehouse giant is well-known for its fair pay and employee benefits.

If you’re considering applying for a job with this retailer, it’s worth knowing the benefits you’ll get as a part-time or full-time employee. From retirement benefits and pension plans to annual bonuses and vacation time, Costco provides its employees with excellent competitive benefits.

Are you ready to start your Costco Wholesale application? Here’s what you need to know about potential jobs, how to apply, and the impressive benefits you’ll be offered at this big box store.

What is Costco?

Costco Wholesale is a global company with a chain of large retail warehouses.

It sells a variety of goods at wholesale prices, including groceries, electronics, beauty items, clothing, appliances, books, bedding, jewelry, tires, fitness supplies, and home improvement. Many of these are brand-name items.

Shopping at these warehouses is exclusive to those with a Costco membership. But when you work for Costco, you’ll receive a free executive membership card — allowing you to take advantage of the store’s low prices.

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With 853 warehouses worldwide — 587 of which are located in the US — and new warehouses popping up yearly, it’s highly likely there’s a Costco near you.

But Costco doesn’t just sell big box merchandise at a low cost. Many stores also have food courts, gas stations, pharmacies, and other specialty services. With all of these resources, it’s easy to see how Costco can offer different job opportunities to its 300,000+ employees.

What types of jobs are available at Costco?

Costco has a wide range of job opportunities. The company prefers to promote from within, and committed employees can progress to management positions.

Costco hires full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. Most employees start off working part-time or seasonal hours in the warehouse, but with hard work and dedication, many of them easily progress to full-time hours within the company.

In addition to warehouse jobs, Costco offers positions in logistics, eCommerce, journalism, marketing, travel, depots, accounting, human resources, and purchasing.

And that’s not all. Some Costco stores also employ optometrists, pharmacists, and hearing aid specialists. If you have a degree in one of these areas, consider setting up shop at your local Costco.

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If you’re interested in becoming a Costco employee, you’ll want to find jobs in your local area. You can start by browsing these jobs at Costco.

Why should you apply to work at Costco?

If you’ve ever shopped at Costco, you know how attentive and helpful their employees are to customers. Indeed, Costco has a reputation for being a positive place to work. It’s an ethical company and doesn’t discriminate.

Employees can expect a positive company culture and supportive team environment at Costco. Considering that 44% of American employees report experiencing high stress levels at work, having supportive coworkers and a great work environment can significantly reduce work stress.

But how does the Costco Wholesale company maintain its positivity, ethics, and reputation? The answer is competitive employee benefits.

After an initial introductory period, part-time and full-time employees are eligible for select benefits. Depending upon your position, you’ll be able to register for health insurance, 401K plans, and paid time off (PTO).

Few companies offer insurance or benefits for part-time workers, so this perk sets Costco apart from other retail companies.

Below are just some of the benefits Costco employees can expect:

14 Costco employee benefits you might not know about

If you’re looking for a great company with competitive employee benefits for part-time and full-time workers, start your job search at Costco Wholesale.

Here are the top 14 Costco benefits you should know about before applying for available positions:

1. Health insurance

Costco offers affordable health insurance to its part- and full-time employees.

These health benefits include general medical, hospital cover, hearing aids, and mental health care. These benefits are for the entire family, including spouses, domestic partners, and children.

Keep in mind that the more people you add to your insurance plan, the more you’ll pay. These costs are typically taken out of your paycheck.

The health insurance policy includes prescription medicine. Costco employees can access pricing as low as $3 for generic medications with a 15% copay for other prescriptions.

If you are injured in an accident, Costco offers access to short-term disability insurance.

2. 401k plans

Costco has generous 401(k) plans to help employees prepare for retirement. You can choose how much to contribute to your pension account from each paycheck.

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Depending on what you contribute and the level of your employment, Costco will match up to 50 cents for every dollar. They’ll honor these company contributions up to $500 per year.

3. PTO

Eligible employees at Costco enjoy PTO. New full-time employees can access one week of PTO after one year. After two years of working at the company, the PTO goes up to two weeks.

For those who have been working for more than five years, there are three weeks of PTO. After ten years, it’s four weeks.

Vacation leave continues to build up over time. Long-term staff who have been there for more than fifteen years will get up to five weeks of PTO plus sick leave.

If you’ve been working at Costco for more than 90 days, they’ll pay you for any public holidays. These include New Year’s Day, Easter, Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Both part-time and full-time employees will receive this benefit.

4. Dental insurance

For those who work more than 23 hours per week, Costco offers affordable dental insurance. Dental plans cover the worker and their family.

There are two plans available: the Core plan and the Premium plan. Part-time workers can only choose the Core plan.

Depending on the plan, staff may get general dental, major dental, and orthodontic treatments. Choosing in-network providers will give you the best rates.

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5. Maternity and paternity leave

Costco offers benefits for employees who are starting a family. Depending on the position and hours worked, paid maternity leave is between six weeks and three months.

However, these benefits will vary depending on the state you work in. Employees will need to speak to their payroll clerk to find out what their Costco store location offers for maternity and paternity leave.

For breastfeeding mothers, you’ll want to think about your lactation schedule before returning to work. If you let your manager know your lactation needs prior to returning, they can set up a private space for pumping and schedule lactation breaks for you as needed.

Costco also offers maternity and paternity leave for people who are adopting children. As a Costco employee, if your newborn or adopted child needs health insurance, you’ll have two months to register them.

6. Sick days

In addition to paid vacation leave, Costco gives its employees several paid sick days. If you’re a full-time or part-time employee, your sick days will build up every week, with a total of nine sick days per year.

Most Costco managers will ask for a medical certificate before they approve paid sick leave.

Providing medical notes will help secure your position at your local Costco. Remember, Costco prefers promoting existing employees over hiring new people for management jobs. Frequent call-outs without medical documentation can hurt your standing.

7. Paid breaks

Another benefit of working at Costco is paid breaks. Most shifts are eight hours long, and employees are entitled to a 30-minute lunch break.

During an eight-hour shift, there are two other breaks, 15 minutes each. If you’re hoping to secure a higher position within the company, it’s important that you return from your break on time.

Employees who return late from breaks affect their coworkers’ break times — especially those who work in the warehouse. They may also be passed up for full-time hours and promotions.

8. Sunday pay

Costco prefers to hire employees who can work five days a week, regardless of their part-time or full-time status. However, employees who opt for Sunday hours get an extra benefit — time and a half!

And considering that Costco pays its employees well above minimum wage, Sunday pay is an extra bonus for workers.

So if you’re looking to increase the amount on your paycheck, let your Costco managers know you’re willing and available to work on Sundays.

9. Ongoing training

Those with a Costco job get ongoing training and support. The company even has student retention programs designed for warehouse employees.

If the worker attends college, Costco will make sure they get flexible hours so they can juggle work and study.

Plus, Costco has a free, voluntary program called Journeys for All. Employees who sign up get access to a mentor and opportunities for education and career development.

Ongoing training isn’t only beneficial for future mentors, trainers, and college students, but it’s also a great program for employees who are looking to further their careers at Costco Wholesale.

10. Vision insurance

Costco employees can take advantage of the on-site opticians that work at many of the warehouses. The company offers vision insurance with a free eye exam worth up to $60.

Plus, staff members receive $175 toward new glasses or contact lenses from any Costco store. This is available to all employees regardless of pre-existing eye conditions.

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11. Life insurance

Costco offers accidental death and death insurance for employees only. The type of insurance benefits you can receive depends on how long you’ve been working there and the type of role you have.

Full-time employees who have been with the company for less than two years will receive their equivalent annual earnings.

After this period, the payout will be double their annual earnings. The maximum benefit is capped at $225,000.

Costco part-time jobs come with a maximum insurance payout of $15,000.

12. Free membership cards and holiday perks

The Costco employee discount works differently than with other companies. Instead of a percentage off across the store, employees get the additional benefits that come with a Costco membership.

Each staff member receives two free executive memberships for themselves and their partner. They also receive two regular memberships to share with family or friends.

This is a useful perk for those who like buying in bulk.

Plus, as a special thank you during the holidays, Costco employees are entitled to one free turkey every year for Thanksgiving. Other perks include discounted travel and auto insurance.

13. After-hours employee shopping

If you’ve ever been to Costco, you know the store is incredibly busy from open to close. And if you’re an employee, you don’t want customers stopping you when you’re off the clock and want to shop the store.

That’s why the majority of Costco stores offer after-hours employee shopping.

After-hours shopping gives Costco employees a relaxed experience without customers. So if you’re looking to purchase a new product or shop for Christmas gifts, for instance, you’ll have the best pick of the bunch.

14. Extra benefits for long-tenured hourly employees

If you’re looking to make a career out of your Costco Wholesale job, you’ll be greatly rewarded.

Costco employees receive bonuses every year. The longer an employee stays with the company and the higher the position they hold, the more money they’ll receive for their yearly bonus.

Since Costco prefers to promote employees within the company rather than hiring new people, long-standing employees have more opportunities for advancement.

And as if that’s not enough, Costco employees with 25 years of experience receive a free celebratory cake!

How much can you earn working at Costco?

Costco is one of the highest-paying employers in the retail industry. For example, the average wage for a Costco cashier is $15.35 an hour. In comparison, Walmart cashiers earn an average of $11.66 an hour.

While it’s important to note that each state’s minimum wage will vary, the employee benefits Costco offers make all the difference.

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If you want to work as a forklift driver, the average is $19 per hour. Or you can get a Costco job as a meat cutter and get an average hourly wage of $20 per hour.

Certified positions, like opticians and pharmacy technicians, earn anywhere from $18–$20 an hour. Your base pay will depend on the minimum wage and cost of living in your state.

While we know Costco pays fair wages, your salary will depend on a variety of factors. The job position, location, experience, and hours worked will all have an impact on your take-home pay.

Regardless of where you start, there’s the opportunity for career advancement and pay increases. For example, you could start in warehouse distribution and progress to management.

How to apply at Costco

Are you thinking about working at Costco? You’ll need to check which location is the most convenient for you. To see what roles are currently available in your area, check out these Costco jobs.

Costco doesn’t discriminate and is an equal-opportunity employer. They may offer you accommodation during the application process.

You can create a profile on the Costco job seeker website and complete an application. You’ll need your full name, email address, password, address, phone number, and a summary of your work history. Depending on the job, you may need to provide certifications.

You can apply to a specific store or for a particular position. For example, you may be interested in working in the Costco Tire Center or one of the busy warehouses. There are also cafes inside department stores that need food service workers.

Before clicking apply, read the job description carefully to make sure you’re a good fit. If there are no positions available, your application will stay on file for 90 days.

Once you’ve submitted your details, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

If your application progresses to the next stage, you’ll need to attend an interview. You’ll also need to pass a drug test before Costco offers a position.

Why you should apply for Costco today

Costco Wholesale sells everything from toilet paper to chainsaws. It could be the retail chain for you if you want to work for a fast-paced company with fair pay and advancement opportunities.

Working at Costco will give you a range of benefits, such as health, vision, and dental insurance, PTO, extra Sunday pay, parental leave, after-hours employee shopping, and 401k plans.

They’ll even cover the cost of your Costco membership fee. This complimentary access comes with exclusive discounts and other perks.

What are you waiting for? Apply for a Costco job today. If you want to browse jobs in your area, check out hiring opportunities on our job board.

Looking for more information? Head over to our resource center to investigate tips for getting hired, job benefits, and how to nail your job interview.