Walmart has moved 3,000 pharmacy technician jobs into newly created operations team lead positions and raised the average hourly wage for those roles to $28 from $22 as part of a broader effort to scale its pharmacy and digital healthcare capabilities. The retailer also said pharmacy technicians will be eligible to earn up to $40.50 an hour under the updated pay structure.
The reclassification is intended to strengthen local pharmacy teams at Walmart's roughly 4,600 locations by expanding staffing and adding a layer of oversight. Team leads will be tasked with supervising day-to-day pharmacy operations and supporting pharmacy managers and pharmacists. Depending on location, team leads have the potential to earn $42 an hour, excluding bonus.
Walmart framed the compensation and staffing changes as complementary to its push into digital and pharmacy services. The company is expanding offerings such as Better Care Services and providing access to Eli Lilly's LillyDirect program, while also growing its pharmacy delivery capabilities. Those initiatives are presented as part of a broader effort to make pharmacy services more accessible and integrated with Walmart's digital channels.
The move comes amid intensifying competition in the retail pharmacy market. Amazon has been expanding same-day prescription delivery to more U.S. cities and this month began offering Novo Nordisk's Wegovy weight-loss medication through insurance plans, with cash prices starting at about $149 a month. Walmart's adjustments appear aimed at shoring up in-store teams as it increases digital service options.
Walmart also noted that it raised its annual forecasts for the second time in November after reporting another strong quarter, driven by surging online sales and an ability to attract higher-spending shoppers with faster delivery options. The company did not provide additional guidance on how the newly created roles will be phased in or the timeline for broader implementation across its store base.
Operational context - By elevating a subset of pharmacy technicians into team lead roles and widening pay ranges, Walmart is investing in front-line staffing that supports both in-store operations and expanding digital healthcare services. The company is positioning those roles to provide day-to-day leadership within pharmacies while aligning compensation to reflect increased responsibilities and local pay variations.