Have you ever thought about working at Costco to get access to their employee benefits? With a great reputation for treating their workers well and offering great benefits, Costco is a popular choice for people looking for part-time work. Keep reading to find out why!
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Does Costco Include Benefits For Part-Time Employees?
One of the primary perks of working at Costco is that all Costco employees are eligible for benefits, including the part-timers. The only catch is that part-time employees are expected to work at least 24 hours per week to qualify for benefits, and they do not become eligible to claim benefits until they have worked 450 total hours.
What Are The Part-Time Benefits At Costco?
The benefits provided by Costco to its employees are competitive and enticing to say the least.
Here is a list of the benefits they offer their employees:
- Healthcare coverage (including dental)
- Retirement contributions
- Bonuses
- Paid sick leave in case of illness
- Paid vacation
- Paid time off (PTO)
- 401(k) plans with employer match
- Fun extras like a free turkey at Thanksgiving!
Some benefits depend on years of employment, total hours worked, and other factors. For a full look at what Costco offers its employees, read more on their website here.
Costco Full-Time Vs. Part-Time Benefits
Another great thing about Costco’s benefits program is that they offer the same range of benefits to all of their employees, regardless of whether they work full or part time. According to some Costco employees, health care related copays did drop slightly when they became full-time employees, but that was the only difference they noted. If you are currently a Costco employee and you’re wondering what benefits you can claim, you can learn exactly what benefits you have access to by visiting the Costco Benefits portal.
How Much Does Costco Pay Part-Time?
As with any employer, pay rates vary based on lots of different factors, like region, state and federal minimum wage standards, etc. Depending on where you live, the Costco near you might pay slightly more or less than national averages. Here, we will go over some of the average rates Costco offers its part-time employees.
According to Ziprecruiter.com, the average annual income for a part-time Costco employee is $29,036.
Based on information provided by hiring services like Indeed.com and others, the average hourly rate for a part-time cashier or other frontend worker (such as a bakery employee) can range from $12 per hour to $17 per hour.
For other positions such as shipment unloaders, managers, or pharmacists, average hourly rates can range as high as $35 to $75 per hour.
How Long Are The Part-Time Hours At Costco?
Like most workplaces, average shifts for all permanent employees at Costco are 8 hours long. However, some part-time Costco employees report being scheduled for 5-hour shifts regularly.
Part-time employees are typically expected to work between 20 and 25 hours per week, and are also expected to maintain open availability Monday through Friday. Shifts typically span from 9 AM to 5 PM.
In terms of flexibility, it’s hard to give a firm answer on this as scheduling will depend on store location, management, etc. But according to some Costco employees, scheduling is not very flexible. Schedules are posted two weeks in advance, so employees are at least given plenty of notice about when they are expected to work. But once you have been scheduled, you are expected to show up for your shift without exception.
Does Costco Hire Part-Time?
Yes! Costco is always hiring for both full- and part-time employees.
How To Apply For A Part-Time Position At Costco?
To find out about Costco’s hiring process, you can visit the Costco Jobs page here. You can also visit their job search and application tool directly where you will be able to search for open positions at a Costco Warehouse near you.
When you use Costco’s job search tools, you will notice that their job postings are not divided up into full- and part-time opportunities. Applicants are welcome to apply for any position they choose and can provide their availability and desired time investment on their application.
To apply for a job at Costco, simply follow these steps.
- Visit the Costco job search page
- Select the “Apply to a Location Near You” button on the left-hand side of the page
- Select your state and city from the drop down menus below OR enter your zip code
- Select your desired location from the list of stores that appear on the screen
- Select the position you would like to apply for OR select “Any Position”
- Follow the steps provided to you in the online application
Is It Hard To Get Hired At Costco?
Getting a job at Costco is known to be fairly easy as long as you stay committed throughout the interview process. While Costco is inclusive and accommodating in their hiring, they do expect their applicants to go through a multi-phase interview process. Just make sure you attend all of your interviews and are prepared, professional, and motivated.
How Long Does It Take Costco To Hire?
The length of the Costco hiring process will vary based on location, but some sources state that the process takes between 2 and 3 weeks.
Is Costco A Good Place To Work Part-Time?
Costco is absolutely a great place to work part time, but it’s good to know about the drawbacks as well as the benefits. Here, we will go over the pros and cons to working at Costco part-time.
Pros
- Access to generous benefits like health coverage (including dental coverage), retirement contributions, and paid leave
- Free Costco membership
- 4 additional free annual memberships each year to gift to friends and family
- Extended shopping hours
- Time and a half pay on Sundays
Cons
- Unlike most grocery chain employers, Costco does not offer any form of employee discount
- Scheduling can be rigid and part-time employees are still expected to maintain open availability
- Work environment can be very busy and physically demanding
FAQs
Do Costco part-time employees get free membership?
Yes! All Costco employees get a free membership for themselves as well as 4 additional free memberships each year to gift to friends and family.
Do Costco part-time employees get discounts?
Unfortunately, no. Because Costco Wholesale offers so many other benefits to its employees (including a free membership that offers savings on all daily purchases), it does not offer any form of employee discount.
How many hours do you need to work at Costco to get health insurance?
All employees become eligible for insurance and other benefits once they have worked 450 eligible paid hours. Employees are also expected to work at least 24 hours per week to remain eligible to receive benefits.
What are the best places to work part-time?
Costco is often listed as one of the best places to work as a part-time employee. Some other companies included on these lists are Chipotle, Cost Plus World Market, Home Depot, Lowe’s, REI, Starbucks, and Trader Joe’s.
Conclusion
Overall, we think Costco is an excellent place to work if you’re looking for a part-time job that offers amazing health insurance benefits, contributions to retirement plans, plus lots of other perks. Might as well get online and start an application now. Good luck!
