Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is raising pay and upgrading roles for thousands of pharmacy workers. The move creates better-paying jobs that do not require a college degree, while reflecting a shift in how pharmacies operate. 

Walmart told Axios that it is elevating 3,000 existing pharmacy technician lead jobs into higher-level team lead positions with bigger paychecks and broader responsibilities. The upgraded roles will average pay of around $28 per hour, with top pay reaching about $42 per hour, depending on location. 

Standard pharmacy technicians at Walmart currently earn an average of $22 per hour, with pay scales extending up to about $40.50 per hour. With this move, Walmart is rewarding leadership and experience among support staff in pharmacy departments.

Crucially, Walmart does not require a formal college degree for pharmacy sales associates, pharmacy technicians or operations team leads. The retailer makes these higher-earning roles accessible to workers with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. For people looking for work without taking on student debt, these jobs offer a clear track inside one of the largest employers in the country.

The pay bump comes as major chains like CVS and Walgreens have been cutting hours and closing stores across the U.S. Walmart is taking a different approach by investing in its workforce as it leans more heavily into health services. 

Many Americans now favor pharmacies over clinics for vaccinations, basic diagnostic tests and treatment of common illnesses, because they are familiar, convenient and often open when doctors’ offices are not, per Axios. Kevin Host, Walmart’s senior vice president of pharmacy, told the publication that 75% of its testing and treatment visits now occur after regular business hours or on weekends, when many physician offices are closed.

“With pharmacy care, you don’t need an appointment,” Host told the outlet. “Customers can often walk up and get what they need in 15 minutes or less.”

The shift in consumer behavior is transforming how Walmart pharmacies operate. Technicians are increasingly assuming leadership roles, while pharmacists are taking on more clinical care. 

Walmart has 35,000 pharmacy technicians and 15,000 pharmacists on staff across 4,600 U.S. pharmacies, per Axios.

Behind the scenes, Walmart has transferred a portion of prescription fulfillment to large, highly automated central fill pharmacies, which handle high-volume dispensing and free up in-store staff. By offloading much of the repetitive filling work to these centralized sites, store teams can devote more time to patient counseling, vaccinations, testing and other direct services, per Axios. Walmart plans to open two more fill pharmacies this year. 

The retailer has also expanded prescription delivery services, making it a core way that customers receive medications. As delivery grows, the traditional requirement that a pharmacy be located close to a person’s home will become less critical. 

“We can bring the pharmacy to your doorstep,” Host told Axios.

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