One Idaho Retailer Is Giving Their Employees A Massive Raise

Hundreds of Idahoans are starting the weekend with a big smile on their face as their company is giving them a raise. We estimate that they have roughly 1400 employees across their seven Idaho locations.

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Just as the 18,000 Costco Teamsters employees voted to strike, Costco, already the retailer leader in wages for retail employees, decided to give their nearly 200,000 non-union workers a raise. This isn't to slight their union workers; they are waiting for them to approve a new contract that includes wage increases.

How much do Idaho employees make right now?

The average wage for a retail worker in Idaho is about $15 per hour. Currently, low-level, non-union employees at Costco get about $19.50 per hour, which is clearly among the highest in the retail space for new hires. Higher-level Costco employees make around $29.20 per hour, and considering that more than half of Costco employees are on the higher pay tier, they have very low turnover.

So, how much money are Idaho Costco employees getting?

The lower pay tier will get a 50-cent per hour increase to $20. Higher-tier pay scale employees will get a $1 per hour increase to $30.50 per hour.

Is that all?

Pay isn't everything. Sometimes, employees want other things. Costco is going to give vacation time to new employees in their first year, something most employers don't do. They will also give employees of 30 years or more an extra week of vacation.

Is this all just to avoid a strike?

Maybe, but these changes don't include the union employees. Costco Teamsters are claiming that this is a response to their pressure. Next, they will try to get a new contract done with the Teamsters to avoid a strike with their union employees. The wage increases for non-union employees make most experts believe they will also come up with a solution for their union employees.