Walmart is upgrading 3,000 pharmacy technician positions to operations team lead roles and raising compensation as it broadens its digital and pharmacy-related services.
The company said the change will lift the average hourly wage for pharmacy technicians from $22 to $28. In addition to the higher average, pharmacy technicians will now be eligible for pay rates as high as $40.50 an hour. The newly created team lead jobs will take on oversight of day-to-day pharmacy operations and provide additional support to pharmacy managers and pharmacists.
Walmart said team leads could earn up to $42 an hour, excluding bonuses, with actual pay varying by location. The staffing adjustment is intended to strengthen local pharmacy teams across the retailer's roughly 4,600 stores while the company expands its suite of digital offerings, including Better Care Services, participation in Eli Lilly's LillyDirect program, and broader pharmacy delivery options.
The wage changes follow Walmart's decision to raise its annual forecasts for a second time in November after a quarter the company characterized as strong, driven in part by a surge in online sales. Executives have said improved delivery speeds have helped attract higher-income shoppers to the retailer.
Competition in the pharmacy and prescription delivery space is intensifying. Amazon has expanded its footprint by rolling out same-day prescription delivery to more U.S. cities. In addition, Amazon recently began offering Novo Nordisk's Wegovy weight-loss medication through insurance plans, with reported cash prices starting at about $149 a month.
Walmart framed the job reclassifications and pay increases as a way to support expanded patient access and to reinforce pharmacy operations as its healthcare services grow. The company described the team lead roles as a means to bolster daily operational oversight and to supplement the work of pharmacy managers and pharmacists across its store network.
Note on scope - Details in this report are limited to the items disclosed by the company and the competitive developments cited. Where pay ranges are reported, they reflect the figures provided and may vary by location and additional compensation such as bonuses.