Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is increasing pay for thousands of pharmacy employees after upgrading 3,000 pharmacy technician roles to operations team lead positions, lifting average hourly wages to $28 from $22 as the retailer expands its healthcare and digital pharmacy services.
The company said on Wednesday that pharmacy technicians, who currently earn about $22 an hour on average, will now be eligible for hourly pay of up to $40.50.
The move is aimed at reinforcing pharmacy teams across Walmart’s roughly 4,600 U.S. stores as it rolls out a broader range of healthcare offerings. These include enhanced digital services, Better Care Services, access to Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect program, and expanded prescription delivery options.
Walmart said the new team lead roles will play a key part in managing day-to-day pharmacy operations, while supporting pharmacists and pharmacy managers. Depending on location, these positions can pay as much as $42 an hour, excluding bonuses.
The wage increase follows Walmart’s decision in November to raise its annual outlook for the second time after delivering a strong quarter fueled by rapid growth in online sales. Faster delivery options have also helped the retailer attract higher-income shoppers.
Competition in the pharmacy space is intensifying. Amazon has been expanding its footprint by rolling out same-day prescription delivery to more U.S. cities. Earlier this month, Amazon also began offering Novo Nordisk’s new Wegovy weight-loss medication through insurance plans, with cash prices starting at around $149 per month.