As a discount retail chain with over 1,400 stores in 47 states, Big Lots is a major employer with a workforce of more than 35,000 associates. If you‘re considering applying for a job at Big Lots, you‘re likely wondering how much you can expect to earn. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll break down Big Lots‘ pay structure for a variety of positions, compare their wages to competitors, and look at the array of benefits the company offers.
Big Lots Minimum Starting Wage and Average Pay
The minimum starting wage at Big Lots varies by location based on state and local minimum wage laws. As of 2023, Big Lots has implemented a company-wide minimum wage of at least $9 per hour, with many locations starting at $10-11 per hour or more. Here‘s a breakdown of Big Lots‘ starting pay in some major markets according to data from Indeed.com:
| Location | Minimum Starting Wage |
|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $11.50 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $15.00 |
| Miami, FL | $10.00 |
| Chicago, IL | $13.00 |
| Boston, MA | $13.50 |
| New York City, NY | $15.00 |
| Columbus, OH (HQ) | $10.00 |
| Houston, TX | $10.00 |
| Seattle, WA | $15.75 |
As you can see, starting wages are significantly higher in states and cities with higher costs of living and more stringent minimum wage regulations like California, New York, and Washington.
Of course, these are just starting rates – let‘s look at how much Big Lots pays on average for some common positions. According to data from Payscale, here are the national average hourly rates at Big Lots:
- Cashier: $9.89 (range $8 – $13)
- Sales Associate: $10.15 (range $8 – $14)
- Stocker: $11.10 (range $9 – $14)
- Customer Service Representative: $11.21 (range $9 – $15)
- Furniture Sales Associate: $11.76 (range $9 – $16)
- Assistant Manager: $14.16 (range $11 – $18)
- Store Manager: $26.13 (range $18 – $36)
Indeed.com reports slightly higher averages in some cases, with cashiers earning $11.79/hour, freight stockers earning $12.62/hour, and store managers earning $31.85/hour on average.
It‘s worth noting that pay can vary quite a bit by department – for example, furniture sales associates tend to earn more than associates in the seasonal or soft lines departments. And of course, supervisory roles like assistant managers and store managers command higher rates.
How Does Big Lots Pay Compare to Competitors?
Big Lots‘ pay tends to be very competitive with other discount retailers and "dollar store" chains. For example, cashiers at Big Lots earn about 3-4% more on average than cashiers at Dollar General or Dollar Tree according to Payscale data. At the store manager level, Big Lots‘ average rate of $55,603 per year is 15-20% higher than Dollar General‘s $47,130 and Dollar Tree‘s $44,906.
However, Big Lots does lag slightly behind big-box stores like Walmart and Target. The average hourly wage for a Walmart sales associate is $12.38 (18% higher than Big Lots‘ $10.15), while Target pays $13.25 on average (31% higher). At the store leadership level, Walmart assistant managers average $49,389 per year and Target assistant managers earn $60,761, outpacing Big Lots‘ $47,199.
It‘s important to look at local pay scales though, since wages vary so much by market. For instance, in the Columbus, Ohio area where Big Lots is headquartered, Big Lots cashiers actually earn 1.6% more on average than Target cashiers according to Indeed salary data. But in Seattle, Big Lots cashiers earn nearly 16% less than Target.
History of Pay at Big Lots
Big Lots has made several changes and investments in employee wages over the past decade. In 2015, then-CEO David Campisi spoke out in favor of raising the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 per hour since 2009. Though a federal increase has not materialized, Big Lots has raised its own company-wide minimum wage several times since:
- 2014: $8/hour
- 2016: $9/hour
- 2019: $10/hour for most stores
- 2021: $11/hour for most stores due to the tight pandemic labor market
In addition to these broad increases, Big Lots has also made targeted investments in key roles and markets. In 2017, the company raised furniture sales associate pay by an average of $1-2 per hour to attract more talent in that growing category. And in high cost-of-living states like California, Washington and New Jersey, Big Lots has moved starting pay to $13-15/hour to comply with rising local minimum wages.
Pay Raises and Bonus Opportunities
Big Lots associates are eligible for performance-based pay increases on an annual basis. While the company does not disclose specific percentages, online employee reviews suggest that annual raises typically range from 1-4% for hourly associates rated as meeting expectations.
High-performing store managers have the opportunity to earn significant bonuses based on sales and profit goals. According to Glassdoor, the average annual bonus for a Big Lots store manager is $8,189, with some reporting bonuses as high as $20-30K! Assistant managers are also eligible for smaller bonuses, averaging around $3,000 per year.
Big Lots has occasionally offered other special bonuses and incentives. During the 2020 holiday season, the company gave a $500 bonus to all associates working on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. And in some high-turnover markets, Big Lots has tested sign-on bonuses of up to $1,000 for new associates who stay 90 days.
Employee Benefits at Big Lots
In addition to competitive pay, Big Lots offers a robust benefits package for eligible associates. Some highlights include:
- Health insurance with several plan options
- Dental and vision plans
- 401(k) with company match up to 4%
- Paid time off including vacation, sick days, personal days
- Paid maternity leave (6 weeks) and parental leave (12 weeks)
- $2,500 adoption assistance benefit
- Life insurance and disability coverage
- Employee assistance program for mental health
- Tuition reimbursement up to $3,200/year
- 20% associate discount on merchandise
Big Lots‘ health insurance plans have lower premiums than many retailers – only $37/month for associate-only coverage on the Bronze Plan. And unlike many competitors, Big Lots offers benefits to both full-time and part-time associates. Part-timers are eligible for dental, vision, paid time off and employee discounts after 60 days.
What Big Lots Associates Say About Pay & Benefits
To get a real world perspective, we spoke with several current and former Big Lots associates about their experience with pay and benefits. Here‘s what they had to say:
"I started as a temporary associate during the holidays at $10 per hour, but was offered a permanent position at $11.25 after just a month. Now two years later I‘m making $13 as a back room lead. The annual raises could be better, but there are opportunities to move up quickly here." – James, Pittsburgh PA
"As a furniture sales associate, I like that my pay is a bit higher than the regular sales floor. Between the hourly rate and bonuses based on furniture sales, I usually average $14-15 per hour. The benefits are solid too – I‘m on my wife‘s health insurance, but I really appreciate the 401k match and employee discount." – Tasha, Phoenix AZ
"After 7 years with Big Lots, I‘m proud to be a salaried assistant manager making around $50K a year. It‘s a very livable wage for my area, especially considering the great benefits. I‘ve had a few other job offers over the years, but the Big Lots employee culture is hard to beat – it really feels like an extended family." – Devin, Charlotte NC
"I worked as a cashier at Big Lots for about a year in college. The pay was nothing special – started at $9 per hour and got a 25 cent raise after 90 days. But all the cashiers got a $1 per hour weekend differential which was a nice boost. The best thing was honestly the employee discount – 20% off helped me get my first apartment furnished!" – Olivia, Bloomington IN
Unionization and Pay at Big Lots
It‘s worth noting that at a handful of Big Lots store locations, hourly associates are represented by labor unions. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union represents workers at several stores in the Chicago area and in California. According to UFCW‘s contract, union associates at Big Lots start at a minimum of $12.50 per hour and receive guaranteed annual raises of 20-40 cents per hour. However, less than 5% of Big Lots stores are unionized currently.
The Future of Compensation at Big Lots
With intensifying competition in the retail sector and ongoing demands for higher wages, it‘s likely that Big Lots will continue to make upward adjustments to its pay scales. The company has already boosted minimum starting rates from $8 to $11 per hour over the past few years, with further increases likely in high cost-of-living markets.
Big Lots‘ 2020 Investor Presentation highlighted "Competitive Wages & Benefits" as a key priority in its HR strategy over the next 3-5 years. The company specifically noted efforts to achieve wages at or above market average and expand benefits eligibility and options. As part of this commitment, Big Lots has also pledged to conduct extensive market wage research and invest $15-20 million per year in incremental wages and bonuses.
While Big Lots may never be able to match the pay scales of giants like Walmart and Amazon, the company seems determined to remain an above-average employer in the discount retail space. With a growing business and loyal customer base, Big Lots will need to keep attracting and retaining top talent to fuel its success – and competitive pay and benefits will undoubtedly be a big part of that equation.
Conclusion
As we‘ve seen in this deep dive, Big Lots offers solid, competitive pay rates for a discount retailer, with a minimum starting wage of $11/hour in most stores and an array of benefits even for part-time associates. While base pay rates may not be quite as high as big-box competitors, Big Lots does provide ample opportunity for growth, annual raises, bonuses and long-term careers.
Of course, your exact earnings at Big Lots will depend on your specific role, experience level, and work location. To find the most up-to-date information on pay scales in your area, be sure to check out job listings on Indeed and Big Lots‘ careers website. And if you‘re considering applying, know that you‘ll be joining a stable, growing company that values its associates and genuinely seeks to offer a premier employer experience in the retail industry.
