If you’re eyeing a job at Costco, the first piece of information you need is the minimum age requirement at one of the largest warehouse retailers in the world. So exactly how old do you have to be before becoming a Costco employee? Come find out!
Costco employees need to be at least 18 years of age. You will be hired as a cashier, cashier assistant, membership assistant, membership refund assistant, or stocker at the entry-level. Costco does not hire 16 and 17 years olds due to its warehouse setting.
Keep reading to learn more about entry-level roles at Costco and why it’s such a great place to work!
What Is The Minimum Wage at Costco?
82% of current and former Costco employees recommend working for the warehouse giants to their friends – and for good reason!
Costco has raised its minimum pay to $17 per hour across the company, which is way higher than the federal floor pay of $7.25. What’s even more eye-catching is that the company keeps on bumping the minimum wage periodically – the recent increase came in less than one year.
The warehouse retailers use these floor pay increments as incentives to keep workers around for longer, even if it is for jobs typically taken up as part-time affairs. Thus, Costco employment comes with excellent benefits for 18-year-olds looking to bag their first job, like a highly competitive minimum wage.
What Kind of Jobs are Offered to Teenagers at Costco?
Costco has various positions, usually manned by teenagers. These entry-level positions include handling cash registers or assisting members. Here are some of the most common jobs for teenagers at the warehouse heavyweights.
Cashier
A cashier handles the registers and transactions. Their job is to be friendly and provide excellent customer service. They are also required to keep their space clean, be well versed with various payment methods, and help with restocking or closing when needed.
Cashier Assistant
A cashier assistant’s job is to help out the cashier as and when necessary. In addition, they assist in streamlining the check-out process by transferring goods to different carts, making runs for items when asked, and restocking products as needed. Other responsibilities of a cashier assistant include retrieving carts and cleaning up the area.
Membership Assistant
As the name suggests, membership assistants help customers with new membership requests, card renewals, and additions. They need to know about the warehouse, different credit programs, and different memberships. Occasionally, they also have to help members locate specific items or check their availability. Other responsibilities include dealing with card replacement and issuance of temporary cards.
Membership Refund Cashier
The membership refund cashier deals with cash or credit returns from customers for membership and merchandise. Additionally, they also record these returns on the cash register and keep notes of all such adjustments performed for customers.
Stocker
While usually staying out of the picture, Stockers perform one of the most critical jobs in Costco (or any retail organization). Apart from stocking the shelves according to dates (keeping older ones to the front), refilling where the product is low, and organizing the shelves, they are also responsible for unloading shipments and moving products to the sales floor.
Applying for A Job at Costco
To apply for a job at Costco, visit their careers page, where you can select your preferred position at the location of your choice. Keep in mind that the job application status, once submitted, is not intimated through email. Instead, Costco recommends you get in touch with the selected location directly. You can find Costco’s locations and contact information through their online warehouse finder.
Your selected location will review your application and come to a verdict within 15 days for retail positions. If there is no response after two weeks, then the application is forwarded to other nearby Costco locations. If so, call the new sites to inform them that you are still interested in the job.
For any assistance, while applying online at Costco, you can get in touch with Costco Human Resources at 1-800-284-4882.
What Kind of Questions are Asked in Costco Interviews?
Interview questions can vary depending on the role you want at Costco. For example, if you have applied for a customer-facing job, the questions will be more behavior-based, like handling a demanding customer. In contrast, you may be asked more about your skills for back-end jobs.
However, regardless of the position you seek, here are some most commonly asked questions at such interviews.
- Why do you want to be a Costco employee?
- Give an example of when you showcased teamwork.
- Tell us about a time when you resolved a conflict in your workplace.
- Describe your strengths and weaknesses.
- Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Many questions asked in such interviews are based on your behavior and used to judge how you conduct yourself in a fast-paced retail environment. Keep in mind the job you’re applying for and prepare for related questions.
Employee Benefits at Costco
Employees, both full and part-time, enjoy excellent benefits at Costco. It is one of the many reasons why so many team members rave about their job at the warehouse retailer. Costco offers numerous other benefits besides extended store hours, free Thanksgiving turkey, and the first chance to snag sale items.
Time-and-A-Half Pay
Regardless of the job, all Costco employees receive time-and-a-half pay on Sundays.
Health and Life Insurance
Costco offers excellent medical, vision care, and dental plans. It also extends basic life insurance. The coverage and plans change upon the nature of your employment and tenure.
Vacation Days
After a year of being employed at Costco, you can get one week of paid vacation days that keep increasing as you spend more time with the company.
401(k) Savings Plan
Costco has an automatic 401(k) plan enrollment where they match 50 cents for every dollar for up to $500 per year.
Free Executive Membership
Employees get free executive membership with the value of $120 and multiple basic memberships.
The Bottom Line
To work at Costco, you need to be at least 18 years old, where you will be hired for entry-level jobs such as cashier, stocker, and membership assistant. However, even at the entry-level, Costco jobs pay well and come with enormous benefits. Overall, they are an excellent company for a first job and to progress your career for lucrative opportunities and significant savings in the future.