How Much Does Big Lots Pay in 2024? The Salaries Revealed
With over 1,400 stores across 47 states, Big Lots is one of the largest retail chains in America. If you‘re considering a job at Big Lots, a top question is likely – how much can you expect to earn?
As a retail industry insider, I‘ll provide everything you need to know about Big Lots salaries, wages, benefits, and pay practices.
Big Lots Hourly and Entry-Level Pay Rates
Hourly wages for entry-level roles at Big Lots typically range from $10 – $15 per hour. Here‘s a breakdown of typical starting pay:
- Cashiers: $10 – $12 per hour
- Sales associates: $11 – $14 per hour
- Stockers: $12 – $15 per hour
According to PayScale data, the average base pay for a Big Lots cashier is $11.36 per hour. With an average of $1.64 per hour in bonuses, total cashier pay is approximately $13 per hour.
Experience level and store location can impact pay rates. In my experience, Big Lots pays wages at the higher end of local market rates to attract top talent. Employees in higher cost-of-living areas like California and New York make more than those in lower-cost regions.
| Role | Average Starting Hourly Pay |
|---|---|
| Cashier | $11 |
| Sales Associate | $13 |
| Stocker | $14 |
Management Salaries at Big Lots
For salaried store management roles, pay ranges from $45,000 per year for Assistant Store Managers up to $85,000 for General Managers of high-volume locations.
Here are the typical base salary ranges:
- Assistant Store Manager: $45,000 – $55,000
- Store Manager: $55,000 – $70,000
- District Sales Manager: $65,000 – $80,000
- General Manager: $75,000 – $95,000
Bonuses are common and can add $10,000 or more to management salaries. For example, Store Managers often earn $10k – $15k bonuses tied to sales performance.
Regional management roles like District and Regional Vice Presidents earn $90,000 – $150,000 in base salary, with bonuses bringing total compensation well over $200,000.
Sales Commissions Provide Big Upside
Select sales associate roles at Big Lots offer commission-based pay. On top of their base hourly wages, commissioned associates earn 1-3% of all sales rung up during their shifts.
For context, an associate working 25 hours per week and selling $5,000 worth of merchandise would earn an extra $125 – $375 per week in commissions. High performers can boost their total compensation by $10,000 or more per year.
Big Lots Benefits Stack Up Well vs Retail Industry
Compared to other major retailers, Big Lots offers strong benefits for full-time employees:
- 401(k) with up to 6% matching contributions – better than Walmart and on par with Target‘s plans
- Employee merchandise discounts up to 30% – greater than Kohl‘s and Best Buy‘s typical 20%
- Health insurance with competitive employee premiums – better coverage than Dollar General
- Life insurance – a benefit many discount retailers don‘t provide
The company also provides paid vacation and sick time, tuition assistance, and adoption/surrogacy benefits.
Pay Frequency and Cycles
Big Lots employees are paid weekly, every Friday. For weeks with a holiday, payday is moved up to Thursday.
Pay cycles are weekly, meaning associates get paid for the prior week‘s work each Friday. The first paycheck when starting with Big Lots may be slightly delayed.
Big Lots Pay vs the Retail Industry
Compared to other major retailers, Big Lots offers competitive pay at both hourly and management levels. Their wage rates match up well vs Walmart, Dollar General, Kohl‘s, and other chains.
Regionally, Big Lots aims to pay at or above local market rates to attract top talent. In high-cost metros, their wages scale up accordingly.
The Bottom Line
For cashiers, sales associates, and hourly roles, Big Lots pay ranges from $10 – $15 per hour. With performance bonuses, total compensation can reach $35,000 – $45,000 per year.
Salaried store managers earn $55,000 – $95,000 depending on experience and store sales volume. Bonuses and stock options provide significant upside.
At both hourly and management levels, Big Lots rewards top performers with pay levels that meet or beat industry averages. Combined with strong benefits, their compensation packages attract and retain some of retail‘s top talent.
