Walmart Inc. WMT, +0.38% is raising wages for its pharmacy technicians, a sign that large retail pharmacies continue to compete fiercely for some workers.
Starting next week Walmart said it would raise wages for pharmacy technicians to bring average pay for the role to more than $20 an hour. It also promised more frequent wage increases based on experience and time at the retailer, which executives believe will help attract and retain pharmacy employees.
“We are sending a strong signal to pharmacy technicians everywhere that Walmart is serious about attracting top talent and giving them the tools to build a successful career,” the company said.
Walmart said it also plans to hire 5,000 new pharmacy technicians this year. Starting pay for pharmacy technicians won’t change. It ranges from $15 to more than $22 an hour.
An expanded version of this story appears on WSJ.com.
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