Kroger is one of the major grocery store chains in the United States with over 2,800 stores across 35 states. According to ZipRecruiter, the average wage of a grocery store employee comes in at around $17.00 per hour nationwide.
Wages are an essential factor when considering employment with any organization. With national averages for grocery stores in mind, we break down the average wages at Kroger’s stores in this article.
How Much Does Kroger Pay?
The average pay for a Kroger employee is $16.00 per hour, according to a report from a Kroger representative in 2024. This wage equals approximately $31,200 per year and falls just below the average wages of grocery store workers nationwide. Managers earn between $50,000 to $200,000 depending on their role.
Pay can depend on any number of factors and will vary from person to person. However, generally pay will be based on the role with the team, years of service, and location.
With all these factors in mind, this article will break down all the factors that impact pay at Kroger.
Read on the next section to see how pay varies from position to position.
Kroger Pay by Position
To run a successful Kroger store, there are a variety of essential roles. Depending on the level of responsibility, the employee can make anywhere between $10.00 per hour to high six-figure salaries. In this section, we break down some of the most common roles and their pay structure.
The table below shows the average annual income for Kroger employees who works 40 hours per week.
| Job Title | Type of Wages | Average Yearly Wages | Average Yearly Bonus |
| Cashier | Hourly | $21,450 | N/A |
| Courtesy Clerk (Bagger) | Hourly | $20,800 | N/A |
| Assistant Manager | Salary | $59,891 | $5,700 |
| Store Manager | Salary | $76,458 | $22,684 |
| Meat Cutter | Salary | $32,893 | N/A |
Reviewing this data, we can see that average wages can vary significantly depending on the position. Generally, the higher paying roles are positions that require special skills or responsibility.
For example, a meat cutter makes more than a bagger or cashier, as it requires a relative skill. Meanwhile, managers are responsible for the success of the score and are compensated as such.
Managers are even eligible for bonuses to reward strong performance. The highest pay position for Kroger is the Chief Operating Officer.
Kroger’s Highest Paying Position
The highest-paid employees at Korger generally do not work from the various retail stores across the country, but from the headquarters based in Cincinnati. Executive team members like Chief Operating Officer and Vice President are the highest-paid employees at Kroger.
According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the CEO of Kroger received $20.6 million dollars in total compensation in 2020. Their compensation encompassed not only their wages, but also bonuses, equity, and stock.
Other executive positions receive similar compensation packages, with salaries reported in the high $200,000 range. For example, Chief Operating Officer is paid between $269,654 – $295,055 per year.
Read on to the next section to see if Kroger wages vary significantly by state.
Kroger Pay by State
Unlike some other companies in the retail space, Kroger does not have a company-wide minimum wage. To that end, one would expect that wages will fluctuate greatly from state to state. This section highlights some of these differences.
The table below shows the average hourly wages for a Kroger cashier in various locations across the country. The table also shows minimum wage as an estimate of the overall cost of living in that location.
| Location | Hourly Wage | Minimum Wage by State |
| Seattle, WA | $20 | $13.69 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $12 | $9.87 |
| Atlanta, GA | $10 | $7.25 |
| Chicago, IL | $10 | $9.25 |
As we can see from the table, high cost-of-living areas tend to have a higher overall average wage for an entry-level position like a cashier.
Another common question is how often a company pays its employees. The next section has this covered.
How Often Do Kroger Employees Get Paid?
Most Kroger employees get paid every week, compared with most companies that pay bi-weekly. How often employees get paid can vary by location, but the majority of Kroger is paid on a weekly basis.
The standard across the United States is generally to pay employees every other week. For example, Target and Walmart both pay their employees on a biweekly schedule.
A biweekly pay schedule cuts down on overhead and mistakes made during the payroll process. However, employees tend to appreciate being paid weekly, having access to liquid cash as soon as possible.
In the next section, we continue to explore Kroger’s pay structure by examining which Kroger employees are eligible for a bonus. Be sure to read on to find out more.
Do Kroger Employees Get a Bonus?
Kroger employees do get bonuses at every level of employment. The average annual bonus payout is around $4,000 per year. Entry-level employees like cashiers can get small bonuses around $200, while store managers can receive large bonuses in the range of $20,000.
Bonuses are a great part of compensation for strong performers, especially at a company that is having a good financial year. While bonuses are not guaranteed, they are a great way to supplement your normal wage.
For top-tier employees, these bonuses can be a significant portion of their overall compensation package.
Another important factor in compensation is benefits, so read on to the next section to learn about Kroger’s benefits package.
What Benefits Do Kroger Employees Get?
Kroger offers a comprehensive benefits package, that ranges from financial to health and wellness. In this section, we break down the most important benefits offered to Kroger employees.
- 401(k) and pension plans
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Free flu shots
- Well-child visits
- Store Discounts
- Free counseling
- Education Tuition Reimbursement
Whether you need financial security into the future, growth opportunities, or health insurance Kroger’s benefits encompass all these important areas.
How Much Does Kroger Pay in 2024
Overall, Kroger pays approximately $16 per hour which is just short of the national average in the industry. With that said, managers and high-level employees have the opportunity for strong salaries, bonuses, and equity.
Kroger employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package and are paid on a weekly basis. All and all, Kroger offers an opportunity to grow a career from the entry-level onward.
