Walmart is boosting pay for pharmacy technicians to as much as $40.50 per hour and rolling out 3,000 new pharmacy leadership roles, with many of the positions not requiring a college degree.
The Arkansas-based retail giant, which recently topped $1 trillion in market capitalization, says it employs about 35,000 pharmacy technicians and 15,000 pharmacists across about 4,600 pharmacies nationwide.
Pharmacy technicians previously earned an average of $22 an hour, meaning the new pay scale represents a potential increase of about 84% at the top end.
Walmart said not all pharmacy workers will qualify for the $40.50-per-hour rate, with salaries varying based on employee credentials and locations.
Under the new structure, pharmacy operations team leads will earn an average of $28 an hour, with top wages reaching $42 an hour, plus bonus potential depending on location.
Higher pay will be concentrated in high cost-of-living markets.
Certified pharmacy technicians earn roughly $3 more per hour than non-certified peers, with Walmart covering the cost of certification.
Walmart said no college degree is required to become a pharmacy sales associate, pharmacy technician or pharmacy operations team lead, lowering barriers to entry for workers seeking higher-paying healthcare jobs.
The retailer said the new leadership roles oversee daily pharmacy operations and support pharmacy managers and pharmacists, allowing them to spend more time focused on patient care.
Walmart said the pay hikes are part of a broader effort to grow pharmacy teams this year and strengthen staffing as demand for pharmacy services rises.
The company said more than 22,000 associates have completed pharmacy technician certification since 2016, opening the door to higher pay and leadership opportunities.
Walmart framed the investment as a long-term strategy to build internal career pathways while expanding its broader health and wellness footprint nationwide.
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