Is Walmart or Target Better to Work For?

Walmart and Target are two of the largest corporate teams in the U.S., fielding over 2.5 million people combined. They're hiring right now, everywhere. (Seriously. Everywhere.) Want to work as a cashier or sales associate? Chances are, there's an opening in your area.

But which behemoth is better to work for? The answer largely depends upon management, which can be craptastic or fantastic, and depends on location. But you can check out reviews by current and former employees to judge which company is a better match.

Fortunately, we've done the work for you, scanning ratings and reviews from job-ranking sites Glassdoor, Indeed, and Comparably.

Employees have opinions. Strong ones. Here's what they have to say about working at Target and Walmart, including promotions and salaries.

Walmart

Walmart, king of sales, advertises itself as a career-first company. It claims to have an unbeatable promotion record, from entry-level jobs to C-suite executives. According to the Walmart career page, 75% of salaried managers started as hourly associates.

What employees say: According to Glassdoor, 55% of employees would recommend their jobs to a friend, a narrow majority. Right now, there are over 12,000 job listings active. Wink wink, nudge nudge. (Scroll to the last section if you're interested.)

Pay and benefits: According to Glassdoor, reported salaries for cashiers and sales associates average $14 per hour. Reviews suggest three healthcare plans are available, plus a 401(k) match. There is an employee discount, but it may not work on food or clearance items.

Target

Target, the red giant, advertises itself as inclusive and relationship-focused. The company seems dedicated to being inclusive of racial minorities. It boasts a 62% increase in promotions of people of color since 2019 -- so says the Target career page. 

What employees say: According to Glassdoor, 62% of employees would recommend their jobs to a friend, a narrow majority (but less narrow than Walmart). Right now, there are over 15,000 job listings active on Glassdoor.

Pay and benefits: Glassdoor says cashiers and sales associates average $14 per hour. Reviews suggest it offers healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts. Love that.

Which has better reviews overall?

Results are mixed. Employee reviews indicate Target has a better culture and pays a higher salary and offers better benefits, but Walmart offers more opportunities to climb the career ladder. Short-term employees may prefer Target to Walmart, but Walmart offers long-term promotions.

But it's worth noting that Target scores better in unmentioned categories like diversity. And that reviews are close -- the gulf between Target and Walmart is much narrower than that between, say, Walmart and Costco. (All hail the Costco membership!)

Some good news: Employees of both companies claim interviews are easy and friendly. Here are some best practices to employ during an interview:

• Practice common interview questions. You'll come off more competent. Always a plus.
• Dress sharp. Don't fail an interview because you're dressed too casually. (I have. Sigh.)
• Tell the truth. According to Shark Tank interviewer Kevin O'Leary, honesty really is the best policy. It can be scary but it opens doors to roles you may not have considered.

Salaries seem to be similar across companies. Your job is more important than which company you work for. At both Walmart and Target, managers tend to be paid more than warehouse workers, who tend to be paid more than cashiers. So your role with the company impacts how much will land in your checking account on payday.

Benefits include employee discounts, 401(k) plans, and health insurance. These will vary from role to role. Full-time employees are much more likely to be offered benefits.

How to find Target and Walmart jobs

Interested? Sure thing. Here's how to find open roles at Target and Walmart:

1. Search "Google Jobs." 
2. Enter the Google Jobs listings page. 
3. Type "Target" or "Walmart into the search box.

You can see estimated benefits, salaries, and job descriptions from there. Adjust the setting to find open roles in stores near you. Use Google Jobs to pull available listings from everywhere, including LinkedIn and Indeed. It'll save you time, and it's free.

Remember to check out Target and Walmart job listings for salary ranges, benefits, and expectations. These'll help you decide whether you're being paid fairly for your hard work -- and you should be! Your emergency fund isn't going to build itself, and your security is paramount.