Aldi and Zara Top List of Highest-Paid Entry-Level Retail Jobs

Aldi and Zara pay entry-level retail workers more than $20 an hour on average, according to Glassdoor data. The list of 20 companies includes Costco and Target. All had at least 30 salary submissions from current or former employees.

The data covers hourly wages for sales-floor roles reported between January 2025 and June 2026. Companies with fewer than 1,000 employees were excluded. Glassdoor calculated averages from user-submitted pay.

Higher starting wages reduce turnover and improve service, retailers say. They also add to labor costs. Labor costs typically eat about 10% of revenue for a retailer. The trade-off matters for margins, especially as wage inflation persists in parts of the economy. Investors track these costs quarterly.

Glassdoor's data captures only base pay. It does not include bonuses or commissions.