Whether you’re looking for a summer job, college job, or maybe just looking for a good a company with opportunities for advancement, things like hourly pay and a strong benefits package are always the two top concerns. Here are the highest paying jobs in the retail space that offer a double-digit hourly wage along with great benefits like medical and dental coverage, tuition assistance, employee discounts, and an awesome 401(k) program.

ALDI

ALDI is a grocery store chain located in the mid-west, south, and eastern United States. They have a very competitive wage schedule and highly regarded benefits for full-time employees.

Average Hourly Salary: $11.84/hr

$11.84/hr Health Benefits: Full-time employees score a strong health and dental plans. You also automatically get entered into a 401k plan to start saving towards retirement. ALDI will match dollar-for-dollar for first 2% and then $.50 on the dollar for the second 2%.

Other ALDI Perks: Good 401k plan for ALL employees where they match dollar-for-dollar the first 2% and $.50 for the second 2%, holiday pay, and paid time off. Also, it appears to be a very physically demanding job, especially for cashiers.

Costco Wholesale

Costco has a legendary reputation as a fantastic place to work as they’re one of the highest paying jobs in the retail world. My research pretty much backed up everything I’d heard.

Average Hourly Salary: $14.63 (Cashier), $13.34 (Stocker)

$14.63 (Cashier), $13.34 (Stocker) Health Benefits: Costco offers excellent benefits for both full-time and part-time employees. Full timers are eligible for health, dental, and vision coverage after 90 days or 450 hours, whichever comes first. Part-timers are eligible after 600 hours or 180 days. Salaried employees are eligible for benefits on the first of the month after your hire date.

Other Costco Perks: High overtime pay, starting at around $17.50 on Sunday. 401k plan for ALL employees that match contributions at 50 cents on-the-dollar for the first $1,000 (each year) to a maximum company match of $500 a year. Employee stock purchase plan which avoids commissions and fees.

H&M

For those of you unfamiliar, H&M is one of the world’s largest fashion retailers. Here are some details if you’re considering applying for a job.

Average Hourly Salary: $10.75/hour

$10.75/hour Health Benefits: Full coverage for both part and full time employees after a designated period of time.

Other H&M Perks: 25% employee discount (includes sale and clearance items), vacation days, 401k program with company match, pet insurance, Met Life auto and home insurance, and commuter benefits to help pay for parking and transit costs.

See Also: 22 Online Jobs for Teens That Pay REAL Money

Home Depot

The Home Depot offers a competitive hourly wage but their other perks are not nearly as good as those of Lowe’s. Here are the details.

Average Hourly Salary: $11.39/hour

$11.39/hour Health Benefits: Wear the orange apron with pride and full-timers get access to good health benefits. Part-timers, not so much. I remember when I worked at Home Depot, they were very expensive for part-timers to purchase.

Other Home Depot Perks: Quarterly bonuses, NO employee discount, measly 2 hours sick time per month., good 401k program.

In-N-Out Burger

Okay, I know they’re not a retailer…but they’re absolutely freaking delicious. Plus, they have an awesome secret menu. They’re also a terrific place to work, here are the details.

Average Hourly Salary: $11.57/hour

$11.57/hour Health Benefits: They offer part-time and full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in dental, vision and basic life insurance. Eligibility starts after 90 days of employment.

Other In-N-Out Perks: Free drinks all shift long, free meal on work-days (Up to a double-double w/fries. Sorry, no 4×4’s), 15% employee discount at the company store, company sponsored events and parties, and a profit sharing program.

IKEA

IKEA is a Swedish born company that makes affordable furniture and home decor. If you’re considering applying for a job with them, here is what you need to know.

Average Hourly Salary: $10.97/hour

$10.97/hour Health Benefits: From the IKEA site, they offer “a competitive health care plan (for co-workers who work more than 20 hours a week), a generous 401(k) plan, an additional retirement plan called “Tack” (the Swedish word for “thank you”), tuition assistance, and a co-worker discount.”

Other IKEA Perks: Paid time-off, 15% employee discount (even in the “As-Is” department), career development opps, paid maternity leave, and a 401k 100% match up to 5% of your contribution.

Lands’ End

The folks from Dodgeville, Wisconsin have put together a company that’s attracted many strong employees over the years. Along with being one of the higher paying jobs in the retail space, they also offer some great employee benefits…

Average Hourly Salary: $9.56/hour

$9.56/hour Health Benefits: Lands’ End is a little tight lipped about the specifics of their benefit plans. But we do know that all new hires, both part and full time, are offered dental and vision coverage. Only full-timers are offered medical coverage.

Other Lands’ End Perks: 40% employee discount (50% at Christmas), paid time off, emergency child care, and a 401(k) with 50% matching up to 3%.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s Home Improvement has a solid hourly pay schedule and the benefits are pretty darn solid. Here’s what you need to know.

Average Hourly Salary: $11.04/hour

$11.04/hour Health Benefits: Part-timers are eligible for a preventative medical plan which mainly covers office visits. You must apply for coverage within your first month of employment. Employees are expected to pay for the entire plan for the 1st year and Lowe’s pays 60% of the costs in subsequent years. Full timers are eligible after 89 continuous days of employment to enroll in medical, dental, life, HSA account, and disability.

Other Lowe’s Perks: 10% employee discount (higher at Christmas time), first dibs on buying special order returns, vacation and holiday pay for part-timers.

Nike

The conglomerate from Oregon, also known as Nike, has a pretty stellar employee benefits package. Here are the details.

Average Hourly Salary: $10.01/hour

$10.01/hour Health Benefits: Part-time workers, with at least a year of employment under their belt, can take advantage of Nike’s health plan that includes a $1,000 deductible, then they’ll cover 80% above that amount. Full-timers get access to a full health insurance package.

Other Nike Perks: 15% discount for buying Nike stock, tuition assistance, paid sabbaticals, transportation allowance, and a 30% employee discount at Nike Factory Stores (20% off at Niketown).

Nordstrom

Nordstrom is an upscale department store that definitely seems to treat their employees right.

Average Hourly Salary: $11.72/hour

$11.72/hour Health Benefits: Part-timers at Nordstrom get health insurance, a 401(k), life, disability, and accidental death insurance, paid time off, and adoption assistance.

Other Nordstrom Perks: Employee discount of 20% (which raises to 33% at the start of each season), 6.75% commission on all your sales, up to 4% company matching on your 401k.

REI

REI made news last year by giving their employees Black Friday off and it’s this type of forward thinking that makes them a great place to work.

Average Hourly Salary: $11.27/hour

$11.27/hour Health Benefits: From the REI website, “Employees who work at least 20 hours per week, regardless of part-time or full-time status, are eligible for comprehensive health coverage and life and disability insurance through our REI Flex Plan. The REI Flex Plan has three national medical plan options—each with different features and price points.”

Other REI Perks: Retirement and profit sharing program, 50% pre-tax subsidy on public transit expenses, and a 50% employee discount on REI gear/apparel and free gear rentals for personal use from any REI store.

Staples

While the office supply giant, Staples, comes in at under $10 an hour, their perks, for ALL employees, is what sets them apart.

Average Hourly Salary: $9.14/hour

$9.14/hour Health Benefits: According to Staples benefit summary, they offer part-time employees dental, life, dependent life, accidental death and short-term disability insurance coverage. Medical coverage is only available to full-time employees.

Other Staples Perks: Staples has a program called Staples Perks at Work that gives employees membership discounts on travel, clothing and even electronics. They also offer an employee discount that gives associates 10% off, plus another 10% off Staples branded products.

Starbucks

If you ever thought about being a barista, you’re smart as it’s a pretty good gig. While the average salary at Starbucks is not quite $10, their perks are good enough that I felt I needed to include them in this article.

Average Hourly Salary: $9.43/hour for a Barista

$9.43/hour for a Barista Health Benefits: Benefits are available to both part and full time employees. Details here. Full-timers are eligible after 60 days of employment and part-timers are eligible after 240-hours over a 3 month period.

Other Starbucks Perks: All Starbucks employees are also eligible for completely free college tuition for 4-years. This program is an exclusive with Arizona State University’s online degree program and is estimated tol cost Starbucks 250 million dollars. Employees can also take home a free pound of coffee beans every week or a box of K-Cups. Employees also get a 30% discount on all Starbucks food and drinks.

Trader Joe’s

From all accounts, Trader Joe’s is a fantastic place to work and they have a high hourly salary to prove it.

Average Hourly Salary: $13.45/hour

$13.45/hour Health Benefits: Part-time and full-time employees are eligible for health benefits after they qualify, usually within the first 2-3 months of employment.

Other Trader Joe’s Perks: Paid time off, good retirement plan, leadership development courses, 10% employee discount, and of course really cool shirts and name tags.

Whole Foods

Hourly pay, fun working environment, and strong benefits makes many folks look for a job at Whole Foods Market. Here is the skinny.

Average Hourly Salary: $11.36/hour

$11.36/hour Health Benefits: From the Whole Foods website, “After 800 service hours, full-time Team Members pay low individual insurance premiums between $0 and $20 per paycheck, depending company tenure.” Also, if you work at least 20 hours a week, you’re eligible for the same benefits package after 800 hours.

Other Whole Foods Perks: 20% employee discount (up to 30% for some employees), free massage therapy, yoga, and language classes, and paid time off.

Ask the Reader: Am I missing any of the highest paying jobs in the retail space that come with a benefits package? Let me know in the comments, thanks.



By Kyle James

Photo by KOMUnews.