Forbes Top 5 Retail Employers 2015

1. Costco

Overall Rating: 3.9 out of 5

Part-time Cashier: $15.87 an hour (part time up to 24 hours)

Supervisors: $48,464 average annual salary

Pros:

Pay, health and dental benefits, plethora of other misc. benefits, stock options (that actually pay out), paid holidays (MLK, Easter, etc.), overtime pay on Sunday, structured around teamwork. Lots of options for transferring to different positions. You can find your niche and work at it every day which is awesome. The way everything is set up maximizes fairness amongst the many employees in each warehouse. —Current Cashier Assistant

2. The Container Store

Overall Rating: 3.4 out of 5

Part Time Sales: $13.65 an hour

Manager:  $68,310 average annual salary

Pros:

My co-workers are some of the smartest and nicest people I have ever worked with, especially in a retail environment. The hourly pay rate is better than most other retailers. They are incredibly flexible working around other jobs, and accommodating time off requests and your availability. It’s great for students and moms who don’t need or want full-time work. And there is definitely a positive sense of team and camaraderie…  amongst staff and helping each other out. Part-timers get benefits like health insurance, which is nice. They have great products, and really encourage and promote giving the best possible customer service, and appreciate the staff for the work they do.  —Anonymous Current Employee

3. Wegman’s Food Market

Overall Rating:  3.8 out of 5

Cashier: $9.43 an hour (part time can work up to 32 hours)

Department Manager: $62,097 average annual salary

Pros:

Stable, growing company with almost unbelievable success. Great work/life balance and focus on the importance of family–getting time off is always possible if employees reach out. Company has many programs in place to help its employees when needed, and is one of the few left that truly practices what it preaches with being willing to focus on its people first. Family ownership means less focus on bottom line and ability…  to do the right thing for the customer always, as well as great job security. Benefits are top notch [Scholarships, 401k & health benefits for part time] and perks such as discounts and food events are fun also. Great sense of pride for working for this company, and a strong sense of ownership at all levels of management. Managers have protocol to follow but are able to make exceptions when it’s the right thing to do, and aren’t held to unreasonable standards or required to hold employees to something they can’t be expected to meet.  –Current Distribution Manager

4. Trader Joe’s

Overall Rating:  3.5 out of 5

Crew Member:  $13.89 an hour

Manager (“Captain”): $105,577 average annual salary

Pros:

Trader Joe’s has an amazing work environment. Everyone is super friendly. If you are a hard worker and want to stay in the retail business you can work yourself up to management. Health insurance, 10% employee discount, retirement contribution, and free gym membership.  —Current Anonymous Employee

5. Whole Foods Market

Overall Rating:   3.6 out of 5

Cashier:  $11.07 an hour

Team Leader: $51,480 average annual salary

Pros:

Great coworkers, managers
Great pay for cashier position
Team member discount [20%-30%]
On occasion there would be meetings to learn more about natural food in general and specific products being carried which was a great way to be more informed about the food industry.
Few people become team leader rather quickly (few months work as cashier)
Many friendly/engaging customers
Relaxed dress code
Great company values
Hard work is acknowledged at store meetings and through store credit worth $7.50. Many…  receive multiple of these store credits; there’s no limit.  —Former Employee

My Sources:

Forbes

glassdoor.com