Costco Minimum Hiring Age: Everything You Need to Know

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Discover entry-level positions at Costco that don't require experience
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Fresh out of high school and ready to start making your way in the world with a great beginner job? Costco offers entry-level positions to applicants with no experience or college degrees, along with competitive pay and benefits! Find out at what age you can start working at Costco, the starting pay you can expect, and your entry-level job options in the helpful guide below!

How old do you have to be to work at Costco?

You must be at least 18 years old to work at Costco. Recent high school graduates and other employees with no working experience can start working at Costco in entry-level positions like Stocker, Cashier Assistant, and Food Service Assistant.

Section 1 of 6:

What is the minimum age to work at Costco?

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  1. Several Costco positions are entry-level and require no previous working experience or degrees (beyond a high school diploma). Someone who just graduated from high school can apply to one of these jobs and have a realistic chance at getting it. [1]
    • The minimum working age requirement in the US is 14 years old. According to the US Department of Labor, minors are limited in the number of hours they can work and are restricted from operating heavy machinery. Adults 18 and over, however, can work as many hours and perform whatever duties Costco sees fit. [2]
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Apply for a Job at Costco

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  1. Enter the state and city where you live or your zip code, and you'll see a list of open positions. Click "Apply" next to the one you're interested in, create a Costco Careers account (if you haven't already done so), and fill out the empty application fields with your information. [3]
    • If no positions are available through the Costco Careers portal, go to your local Costco Warehouse in person and ask the manager if they're hiring.
  2. At this point, Costco will start getting ready to open and will want to begin training their new staff to perform well by the time the first customers start rolling in. [4]
  3. Various representatives across the country represent different states and areas within each state. You can find their names and email addresses in the "Resources for Veterans" section of Costco's How to Apply page. [5]
  4. Costco says they receive hundreds of applications, and giving them a face to put with the name will better your odds of getting hired. [6]
    • Even if you're a high school graduate with little to no work experience, create a resume highlighting your accomplishments. Those can include a high school grade point average (GPA), any honors you received while in school, places you volunteered, and certifications you've obtained. Your resume will show the hiring manager you have the drive and professionalism to be a good fit at Costco.
    • After submitting your application online, walk into your local Costco and ask an employee if you can see their hiring manager
  5. Costco automatically deletes job applications after 90 days, so it's a good idea to keep applying if your first application isn't successful. You may also find more success by applying to multiple entry-level positions at once, so that if you don't get hired for one, you still have a few options remaining. [7]
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Section 3 of 6:

What is the starting pay at Costco?

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  1. However, some positions at Costco pay more! Employees who work in positions above entry-level, such as bakers and clerks, are paid a minimum of $20.50/hr. Positions that require a higher-level education and experience, like pharmacy managers, can make as much as $218,569/yr. [8]
    • Costco salaries also vary by state. In Colorado, for example, the highest salary a registered Costco pharmacist can receive is $77.90/hr. In California, the same position earns as much as $84.82/hr.
Section 4 of 6:

Entry-Level Positions at Costco (No Experience Required)

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  1. If you do happen to have experience from working or volunteering during high school, you may be able to receive more than the minimum pay of $19.50/hr. If not, the jobs below are great for anyone starting a career, whether you're just turning 18 or turning over a new leaf later in life.
    • Bakery Wrapper : The Wrapper is responsible for wrapping, labeling, garnishing, and stocking goods made and sold in the Bakery section of Costco. [9]
    • Cashier Assistant : In this position, you'll greet Costco customers at the checkout line and pack their groceries for them while the Cashier rings up their total. You'll also run for items, restock merchandise, retrieve carts, and clean up in the store. [10]
    • Food Service Assistant : This job requires preparing and selling food and beverages to customers at the Costco Food Court. It also involves stocking supplies and ingredients, as well as cleaning up both the kitchen and customer eating areas. [11]
    • Maintenance Assistant : This is a janitorial position. It involves cleaning and maintaining the Costco warehouse and the surrounding grounds, cleaning up trash, and dealing with spills and messes throughout the store. [12]
    • Stocker : A Costco Stocker is someone who stocks the shelves, arranges merchandise, cleans the aisles as needed, and answers customers when they ask where to find a particular item or aisle. [13]
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Section 5 of 6:

Costco Employee Benefits

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  1. Their benefits include a health insurance plan, paid bonding leave, an employee stock purchase plan, a 401(k) plan, and Paid Time Off (PTO). Tenured Costco employees also receive bonuses twice a year, and all employees gain access to career and educational advancement programs like the ones listed below. [14]
    • Costco Employee Scholarship: Provides eligible employees with $2500 per academic year for up to 4 years of college (you must remain a Costco employee for all 4 years). [15]
    • Student Retention Program : Empowers college students to attend classes and not lose their job.
    • Journeys For All Program : Provides employees with education, mentoring, and connection opportunities.
    • Supervisor in Training Program : Enables entry-level employees to work up to higher positions and explore other departments.
    • 12-Week Merchandising Training Course : Offers supervisor-level training to managers who need merchandising experience.
Section 6 of 6:

How long do employees work for Costco on average?

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  1. Around 60% of American Costco employees work for 5 years, and more than one-third have stayed on for a decade. This data likely speaks to the overall satisfaction of Costco employees, and it’s not a shock to see that their wages and benefits are well above average in the grocery sector. The warehouse's impressive retention rate makes it a great place to start a long-lasting career in retail. [16]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://dharwadsciencecentre.org/costco-job-for-migrants-with-basic-requirements-in-2024-know-benefits-eligibility/
      2. ↑ https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/youthlabor/agerequirements
      3. ↑ https://www.costco.com/how-to-apply.html
      4. ↑ https://www.costco.com/how-to-apply.html
      5. ↑ https://www.costco.com/how-to-apply.html
      6. ↑ https://www.costco.com/how-to-apply.html
      7. ↑ https://www.costco.com/how-to-apply.html
      8. ↑ https://mobilecontent.costco.com/live/resource/img/static-us-landing-pages/Pay-Ranges-Cadient.pdf
      9. ↑ https://cta.cadienttalent.com/index.jsp?POSTING_ID=55661474617&locale=en_US&SEQ=positionDetails&applicationName=CostcoCanadaNonReqExtCanada
      1. ↑ https://cta.cadienttalent.com/index.jsp?POSTING_ID=55661474453&locale=en_US&SOURCEINFO=JobFamilies.Warehouse&SEQ=positionDetails&applicationName=CostcoCanadaNonReqExtCanada
      2. ↑ https://cta.cadienttalent.com/index.jsp?POSTING_ID=55661475120&locale=en_US&SOURCEINFO=JobFamilies.Warehouse&SEQ=positionDetails&applicationName=CostcoCanadaNonReqExtCanada
      3. ↑ https://cta.cadienttalent.com/index.jsp?POSTING_ID=55661474660&locale=en_US&SOURCEINFO=JobFamilies.Warehouse&SEQ=positionDetails&applicationName=CostcoCanadaNonReqExtCanada
      4. ↑ https://cta.cadienttalent.com/index.jsp?POSTING_ID=55661475665&locale=en_US&SOURCEINFO=JobFamilies.Warehouse&SEQ=positionDetails&applicationName=CostcoCanadaNonReqExtCanadaf
      5. ↑ https://mobilecontent.costco.com/live/resource/img/static-us-landing-pages/2bEmployee-Development.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.collegesuccessfoundation.org/scholarship/costco-employee-scholarship/
      7. ↑ https://mobilecontent.costco.com/live/resource/img/static-us-landing-pages/2bEmployee-Development.pdf

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