How Much Does Dollar General Pay in 2024? A Detailed Look
Dollar General operates over 18,000 discount retail stores across the United States. With over 163,000 employees nationwide, it is one of the largest employers in the retail sector. But how well are Dollar General employees compensated?
Here is an in-depth look at Dollar General‘s pay structure, from hourly wages to annual salaries and bonuses. I‘ll also compare their compensation to major competitors.
Hourly Wages for Dollar General Positions
The table below provides typical hourly pay ranges for common Dollar General store positions:
| Position | Hourly Pay Range |
|---|---|
| Cashier | $9.00 – $12.00 |
| Sales Associate | $9.50 – $13.00 |
| Lead Sales Associate | $11.00 – $15.00 |
| Stocker | $10.00 – $14.00 |
| Head Cashier | $11.00 – $17.00 |
| Assistant Manager | $13.00 – $18.00 |
As you can see, assistant store managers earn the highest hourly wages, while cashiers tend to be at the lower end of the pay scale. However, pay for individual positions can vary based on experience, time with the company, and geographic location.
Dollar General‘s average hourly wage of $10.50 is above the 2023 federal minimum wage of $7.25, but falls below the national median of around $20 per hour for all occupations.
Annual Salaries for Dollar General Management
Here are typical salary ranges for Dollar General‘s salaried management roles:
| Position | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Store Manager | $45,000 – $65,000 |
| District Manager | $70,000 – $100,000 |
| Regional Director | $90,000 – $150,000 |
| Divisional Vice President | $120,000 – $250,000 |
| CEO | $10M+ total compensation |
Higher levels of responsibility come with significantly higher pay potential. But again, salaries can vary based on experience, tenure, and region. Geographic location has an especially large impact on pay for district and regional management roles.
Bonuses and Incentives
In addition to base pay, Dollar General offers bonuses and incentives like:
- Teamshare Bonuses: Twice-yearly bonuses based on sales and profit goals. Payouts average $200 – $300.
- Individual Performance Bonuses: Extra monthly bonuses up to $2,000 for top DMs and RDs.
- Referral Bonuses: Up to $500 for referring new manager candidates.
The Teamshare program paid out a record $173 million in bonuses in 2020.
Benefits for Full-Time Employees
Full-time Dollar General employees (over 30 hours/week) receive the following benefits:
- Healthcare: Medical, dental, vision plans. Premiums from $30 – $300/month.
- 401(k) Plan: Up to 6% match of contributions.
- PTO: 2 weeks vacation + 1 week sick leave per year.
- Holidays: 6 paid holidays.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Up to $5,250 per year.
- Merchandise Discounts: Up to 30% discount.
Part-time employees working over 25 hours/week also get access to healthcare benefits.
How Dollar General Pay Compares to Other Retailers
Here‘s how average hourly wages at Dollar General stack up against key competitors:
| Company | Avg Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Walmart | $15.25 |
| Target | $17.00 |
| Dollar Tree | $10.00 |
| Dollar General | $10.50 |
Employee satisfaction also tends to be higher at Target and Walmart compared to Dollar General based on sites like Glassdoor and Indeed.
Is Dollar General‘s Pay Competitive in Retail?
Overall, Dollar General offers solid compensation for the discount retail sector. Pay exceeds federal minimum wage standards and includes incentive opportunities.
However, wages tend to be lower than retail giants like Target and Walmart for comparable positions. Hourly staff in particular make less than the industry median.
Management roles and corporate positions tend to pay more competitively if you progress up the ranks. But turnover is high, with many store-level employees only staying 1 year or less.
In summary, Dollar General provides essential retail jobs and advancement potential, but likely won‘t lead the industry in hourly wages or satisfaction anytime soon. Workers seeking higher pay in retail may want to target Costco, Trader Joe‘s, or full-service grocers like Kroger.
