Walmart raises pay for 7,000 workers, some as high as $140,000 a year

Walmart is boosting pay for a select group of workers as it continues to expand into the healthcare field.

In a release, Walmart said it is raising pay for its 3,700 pharmacists to an average of $140,000, not including bonuses and incentives. The pay raise follows one last year for pharmacy techs that raised the average salary to over $20 an hour.

“Being an employer of choice also means better work life balance and listening to our customers and associates, which we did earlier this year when we adjusted our hours at pharmacies and vision centers across the country,” the release noted.

Some 4,000 of Walmart’s opticians will also be getting a raise. The average wage for that position will be more than $22.50 an hour in what the retailer described as “another step in our strategy to offer good jobs that lead to great careers.”

Walmart is also launching a new Optician Development Program to facilitate workers in obtaining national certifications and licensure, including paying for the entire cost of the program.

The salaries reflect the push the nation’s largest retailer is making into the healthcare field.

In March, Walmart announced it would open 28 new Health Center locations, expanding its footprint into two more states, Missouri and Arizona while making a big push in to Texas. By the end of 2024, Walmart plans to have 75 Health Centers across the U.S.