Kroger grocery store interior with produce section

Kroger is the largest supermarket chain in the US with ~2,700 stores (plus Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, and other brands). With 430,000+ employees, it's the second-largest private employer after Walmart. Here's what every department pays.

Kroger Pay by Department

Position / DepartmentHourly RateAnnual (40 hrs)Monthly Take-Home*
Courtesy Clerk (bagger)$10 – $13/hr$20,800 – $27,040$1,650 – $2,100
Cashier / Front End$12 – $16/hr$24,960 – $33,280$1,950 – $2,560
Grocery / Stocking$13 – $17/hr$27,040 – $35,360$2,100 – $2,700
Deli / Bakery$13 – $18/hr$27,040 – $37,440$2,100 – $2,900
Meat Cutter / Butcher$14 – $22/hr$29,120 – $45,760$2,250 – $3,530
Pharmacy Technician$15 – $22/hr$31,200 – $45,760$2,400 – $3,530
Department Manager$18 – $25/hr$37,440 – $52,000$2,900 – $4,000
Store Manager$65K – $100K+ salary$65,000 – $100,000+$4,500 – $6,500+

The Union Advantage

🤝 UFCW Union Benefits at Kroger

~75% of Kroger employees are UFCW members. Union benefits include:

  • Automatic raises: Based on hours worked (1,000-hr increments), not manager discretion
  • Health insurance: Union-negotiated plans, often better than non-union retail
  • Pension: Some contracts include pension contributions — rare in retail
  • Job protection: Seniority-based scheduling, formal grievance process
  • Note: Union dues are ~$7-$10/week depending on local

Kroger vs. Other Grocery Chains

ChainEntry PayTop HourlyUnion
Kroger$12 – $16/hr$22 – $25/hrYes (UFCW)
Walmart Grocery$14 – $17/hr$18 – $22/hrNo
Publix$13 – $16/hr$18 – $23/hrNo (employee-owned)
Aldi$15 – $19/hr$20 – $25/hrNo
Trader Joe's$16 – $21/hr$22 – $28/hrNo
Costco$17 – $22/hr$25 – $30/hrSome locations

What Kroger Rates Mean Annually

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