California is about to raise minimum wage. These Merced retailers already have higher pay
California’s new minimum wage goes into effect in just over a month. But some retailers in the Merced-area are already offering a higher starting pay.
The national average wage for cashiers is $13.81 or $28,730 annually, according to 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In California, the hourly average wage for cashiers was $16.81. The state has the most people working as cashiers at 390,590.
The current minimum wage in California is $15.50. That will increase to $16 on Jan. 1, according to the state’s Department of Industrial Relations. Some counties and cities have higher requirements. The minimum wage for fast food workers will rise to $20 an hour in 2024.
Some companies also pay more than the state requires. Costco, for example, raised its minimum wage to $17 an hour in 2021, CNN and Business Insider reported.
If you work a 40-hour week, the $15.50 minimum comes out to roughly $31,200. That’s lower than what MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates an individual would need to meet basic needs, such as child care, housing and food. A living wage for one adult without children in California would be $21.24.
Here’s how much some of the state’s largest retailers pay their employees:
Retailer wages in Merced
Target: In 2022, Target increased its starting wage range. It’s now $15 to $24. A cashier role in Merced starts at $16.25 an hour.
Walmart: The average hourly pay for frontline associates at Walmart is more than $17.50, the company posted on its site. A Walmart cashier could earn between $16 to $26 in Merced.
The Home Depot: The home improvement company announced in February it was increasing the starting pay to or above $15 an hour across the U.S. In California, where the minimum wage is higher, employees earn more. A cashier at The Home Depot in Merced could earn between $18.50 to $19.50 an hour.
Lowe’s Home Improvement: The pay range for a loader/cart associate at Lowe’s is between $15.50 to $18.60 an hour, according to a Fresno job posting.
Kohl’s: A seasonal retail sales associate at Kohl’s could earn between $15.50 and $22.40 an hour in Merced.
JCPenney: A cashier at JcPenney in Merced could earn $15.50 to $23.25 hourly.
TJ Maxx: A retail merchandise associate at TJ Maxx in Turlock could earn between $15.50 and $16 an hour.
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This story was originally published November 30, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "California is about to raise minimum wage. These Merced retailers already have higher pay."
