Later this year I will hit 20 years in the warehouse. Been mostly everywhere, and am one of the leaders of the free world, so to speak. But not a 'break room lawyer", so I won't spew out the exact details of the employee agreement. But here's the answers you are looking for from someone who knows.
Costco is opening a new store near me . I know it is a warehouse setting but does anyone work there ?
Um, no one really works at a location that isn't open(at least until construction starts). But people do work for the company. Approaching 150k I think, including me.
How is the pay?
For hourly people there two levels of pay. We simply refer to it as upper or lower pay scale. For the most part,, only in a new location (and not always there) will you get hired at the upper level. I am not positive, but I think you would start around $11/hr. Lower is roughly a dollar and a half lower as you move up the pay scale. It will take roughly 5 years at full time hours to get topped out these days. There are about a dozen raised to get there. Topped out at the upper scale is $21/hr in the US. After getting topped out, you will get a bonus, when the next one is scheduled(april and oct). These are twice a year ranging from around $2500 to $4000 depending on tenure. Total compensation will depend on position, hours worked, and tenure. So using myself as an example- I've made about $53,000 a year the last couple of years. About as much as an hourly can, unless you work extra days. Exceptions to this are meat cutters. They will make slightly more, depending on the local industry pay for meat cutters. Sunday is time and a half for all hourly employees- every Sunday. 'Supervisors'(anywhere from 5-20 per location) make one dollar an hour over the highest paid hourly below them. Salaried employee details. The company claims to take pride in promoting from within, so don't expect to get hired as a manager, regardless of what your resume says. No bonuses for salaried managers until you hit the asst whse manager level. The first level of salaried(roughly 10-12) postions start out in the low-mid 50's. This is negotiable. There are managers at my location that make less than me. 'Staff level'(4-5 per location) managers are the 2nd salary step. They will top out around 70k. Above that there are Asst whse managers(1-3 per location). They start around 70k. I know one staff level who actually makes the exact same as the asst above them. The whse mgrs make some real money but it is quite secretive. From what I have heard, the are in the 90-100k range, with some legit bonuses and or stock options. I do know one person on that level well, and they bring in about 120k/yr total. I would say it is safe to assume most are in the 110-140 range. Their pay can be influenced greatly on the specific locations profitability. That is the most you can make in a whse. Also, the number of managers at all levels depend greatly on how much the location does in sales. Not all locations have the same pay level for a given position, or all positions for that matter.
Regarding time off, I get 42 paid days off a year- 25 vacation, 9 personal/sick, and 8 paid holidays, of which 7 the building is closed. Remember this is for long term employees, you will have to work some time to get that much. You will have nothing(maybe the paid holidays? but for sure no sick or vacation) the first year. And you will almost surely work weekends.
The pro and cons?
WAY to many to list. Be more specific. But I will say we make a solid working wage. That in turn makes it is hard to leave. Both a pro and a con.
Do you get a membership?
Yes, one free for you and your spouse. Absolutely no discounts.
How are the hours, do you have to stay after it closes and clean up ?
Veru much depends on the location. For mostly all, whse hours are 10am -8:30pm weekday 930 am -6pm sat 10am -6pm sunday with a few exeptions(open till 7 pm christmas season) First workers start 3-4 am. Last generally stay till 10 or 11 pm. You could be anywhere in this range depending on the dept you are in. This depends on the location. Each location can do what they want within reason. My location starts at 4 am and stays till 1030 pm. We have a night stocking crew(4 or 5 people per day usually) and the front end(cashiers and assts) sends out 6-8 to stock after closing. Some locations don't do as much, some do more. You wont know until you are there. In the past the clean up was mostly done the next morning for the most part. The last few years the company has leaned more toward doing more at night and having the AM crew start later(We used to start at 2 am). This has been a topic of hot discussion for many people and locations. It is very likely you could end up working in multiple areas regardless of what dept you work in.
Possibly the biggest statement I can make in the company's defense is that the president of the company makes about 350k in base salary. Compare that to the average 5 year hourly employee making in the high 40's to 50k. Not bad. Especially when the average ceo of the 200 biggest companies was paid 9.5 million last year. Where the average hourly in these companies make less than I do.