Walmart (WMT) is making it more attractive to work in its pharmacies in a push to raise its health and wellness profile and remain competitive with Amazon (AMZN) and brick-and-mortar rivals like CVS (CVS). With higher hourly wages and new leadership positions, the company hopes to lure in qualified candidates and expand its footprint in the health care industry.
Walmart (WMT) has elevated 3K roles to pharmacy operations team leader positions with an average hourly pay of $28 per hour and the potential to earn as much as $42 per hour. This position is available to all pharmacy associates and does not require a college degree.
“These changes support our plans to grow pharmacy teams this year and help customers continue to receive reliable, high-quality care close to home,” Walmart said in a statement.
The investment also appears to be a challenge to an ambitious competitor like Amazon (AMZN) which continues to encroach on the lucrative pharmacy business with same-day delivery, discounts for Prime members, and convenient online ordering. While Walmart+ and its savings card can offer lower prices on generics, Amazon (AMZN) continues to hold the advantage of convenience and a wider selection of brand-name drugs.
As the fourth largest pharmacy business in the U.S., health and wellness revenue contributed 13% to Walmart’s (WMT) total revenue in 2024, up from 11% in the prior year, generating close to $55B in FY24 sales versus $3B for Amazon (AMZN).