Thousands of Walmart, Sam's Club associates in Milwaukee and across the state will get pay raise

MILWAUKEE -- As part of the largest single-day, private-sector pay increase ever, more than 1.2 million Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the U.S., including more than 6,700 in the Milwaukee metro area and more than 25,700 in the state of Wisconsin will receive a pay raise in their March 10 paycheck. The increases are part of the company’s two-year, $2.7 billion investment in higher pay, better training, clearer career paths and additional educational opportunities for its workers.

Walmart associates are eligible for quarterly cash bonuses based on the performance of their store. For the full fiscal year, Walmart associates across the country earned more than $550 million in bonuses, including more than $13.6 million in Wisconsin. In addition to the higher wages, the March 10 paycheck for eligible Wisconsin associates will include a share of the more than $4.6 million bonus earned in the fourth quarter of the year alone.

"I absolutely love my job. Ever since I moved to Milwaukee and was warmly welcomed to Walmart in 2001, the company has been incredibly supportive of my career advancement,” said Cynthia Cranford, personnel coordinator at a Milwaukee Walmart Supercenter. “The new initiatives and wage increase will provide more incentives and opportunities for me and my fellow associates to achieve long term success with the company.”

Walmart’s associate investment is about more than wages and benefits. It is designed to provide associates the skills, knowledge and tools they need to grow with the company and provide great customer service. The company is also creating new training programs, which will create clear career paths from entry-level positions to jobs with more responsibility and higher pay.

Wages and advancement

A job at Walmart means competitive pay for all associates. Last year, Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club promoted more than 200,000 associates, including more than 5,200 in Wisconsin, to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility. In addition, more than 150,000 associates, including more than 3,700 in Wisconsin were converted from part-time to full-time. This month’s pay changes include:


    Walmart in Wisconsin

    Walmart’s local investment goes beyond the company’s recent pay raises. In Wisconsin, the company:


      This associate investment was taken into account in the financial outlook discussed last October at the company’s annual analyst meeting.