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Costco · 2026 report · 12 min

Paying workers more

Costco pays its hourly workers far more than most stores do. On a margin this thin, how can it afford that?

WAREHOUSEMEMBERS
Ticket 01 · The guess

What does Costco pay?

What was Costco's average pay per hour for its hourly workers in the U.S. at the end of fiscal 2026?

$20/hour
$10/hour$50/hour
Words to know

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Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

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Sources and every number (3)

Sources

  • Costco Wholesale Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2026 · Costco Wholesale Corporation (filed with the U.S. SEC), 2026
  • Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees, general merchandise retailers (Current Employment Statistics, series CES4245500008), July 2026 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees, retail trade (Current Employment Statistics, series CES4200000008), July 2026 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026

Every number

  • $33/hoursec.gov ·2026 · Costco's average rate for hourly employees in the U.S., end of fiscal 2026, approximately (Item 1, Human Capital).
  • $1/hoursec.gov ·2026 · In March 2026 Costco raised the top of its wage scales by this much in the U.S. and Canada (Item 1, Human Capital).
  • $18.97/hourbls.gov ·2026 · Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees at general merchandise retailers (big-box stores and warehouse clubs, Costco included), July 2026.
  • $22.34/hourbls.gov ·2026 · Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees in all of retail trade, July 2026.
  1. Lessons›
  2. Big companies›
  3. Costco
  • ·Before this: Kirkland Signature
  • ·Free guide: How Costco makes money
Skip to the lesson
Back to the home page and map, from TryOwning · Costco · Lesson 4
Part 1 of 3Part 1 of 3, 0 done

Costco · 2026 report · 12 min

Paying workers more

Costco pays its hourly workers far more than most stores do. On a margin this thin, how can it afford that?

WAREHOUSEMEMBERS
Ticket 01 · The guess

What does Costco pay?

What was Costco's average pay per hour for its hourly workers in the U.S. at the end of fiscal 2026?

$20/hour
$10/hour$50/hour
Words to know

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page, the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

·
Sources and every number (3)

Sources

  • Costco Wholesale Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 30, 2026 · Costco Wholesale Corporation (filed with the U.S. SEC), 2026
  • Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees, general merchandise retailers (Current Employment Statistics, series CES4245500008), July 2026 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees, retail trade (Current Employment Statistics, series CES4200000008), July 2026 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026

Every number

  • $33/hoursec.gov ·2026 · Costco's average rate for hourly employees in the U.S., end of fiscal 2026, approximately (Item 1, Human Capital).
  • $1/hoursec.gov ·2026 · In March 2026 Costco raised the top of its wage scales by this much in the U.S. and Canada (Item 1, Human Capital).
  • $18.97/hourbls.gov ·2026 · Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees at general merchandise retailers (big-box stores and warehouse clubs, Costco included), July 2026.
  • $22.34/hourbls.gov ·2026 · Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees in all of retail trade, July 2026.
  1. Lessons›
  2. Big companies›
  3. Costco
  • ·Before this: Kirkland Signature
  • ·Free guide: How Costco makes money