Dollar General store interior

Dollar General is the largest retailer by store count in the US โ€” over 19,000 locations, more than McDonald's, Starbucks, or Walmart. With 170,000+ employees, their pay rates affect a significant portion of the retail workforce, especially in rural communities.

Dollar General Pay by Position

PositionHourly/SalaryAnnual (40 hrs)Monthly Take-Home*
Sales Associate / Cashier$10 โ€“ $13/hr$20,800 โ€“ $27,040$1,650 โ€“ $2,100
Lead Sales Associate$11 โ€“ $14/hr$22,880 โ€“ $29,120$1,800 โ€“ $2,250
Key Holder$11 โ€“ $15/hr$22,880 โ€“ $31,200$1,800 โ€“ $2,400
Assistant Store Manager$13 โ€“ $17/hr$27,040 โ€“ $35,360$2,100 โ€“ $2,700
Store Manager$40K โ€“ $55K salary$40,000 โ€“ $55,000$2,900 โ€“ $3,850
District Manager$55K โ€“ $85K salary$55,000 โ€“ $85,000$3,850 โ€“ $5,600

What These Rates Mean Annually

Dollar General vs. Other Retailers

CompanyEntry PayManager PayMin Wage Difference
Dollar General$10 โ€“ $13/hr$40K โ€“ $55KNear minimum in many states
Dollar Tree / Family Dollar$10 โ€“ $13/hr$38K โ€“ $52KComparable to DG
Walmart$14 โ€“ $17/hr$55K โ€“ $100K++$4/hr above DG
Target$15 โ€“ $18/hr$55K โ€“ $90K+$5/hr above DG
Costco$17 โ€“ $22/hr$60K โ€“ $100K++$7/hr above DG

โš ๏ธ The DG Pay Context

Dollar General has faced criticism for its pay rates โ€” many positions start at or near the federal/state minimum wage. However, DG stores are often in rural communities where they may be the only nearby employer. The low pay combined with often being the sole operator of a store (managers frequently work alone) has led to significant employee turnover. If you're considering DG, compare your options โ€” see our minimum wage guide for context.

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