Walmart, as part of its health business expansion and in an effort to retain workers in a competitive market, has raised the wages of 7,700 pharmacists and opticians. The retailer confirmed that the average annual salary of the 3,700 affected pharmacists will be in excess of $140k, but declined to report the current salary range. It did say it anticipates opticians will receive an average hourly wage of over $22.50. In the US, the average annual wage for pharmacists is $129,410, and the average hourly wage for opticians is $21.58. Walmart employs 16,000 pharmacists and 12,000 opticians. In addition to wage increases, Walmart is implementing a programme to allow Vision Center associates to receive certification and licensing to work in higher-paying positions. Walmart’s CFO, John David Rainey, has cited the success of the firm’s health and wellness category as a growth driver.
