How Much Does CVS Pay?

While you are considering whether to apply to the largest pharmacy retail chain, here is some important information regarding the salaries offered. Working at a pharmacy store is more pleasant than a large retail store because it has a more intimate setting where you can get to know your customers easier.

As you read on, you’ll be able to see the starting pay, what you can earn on average, and the salaries associated with the most common positions at the stores and distribution centers.

You’ll also see:

When and how CVS hands out pay raises
How many hours are considered full-time and part-time
When and how you get paid
The CVS break/meal policy

What is the CVS starting pay for Entry-Level Workers?

The CVS starting pay has become more competitive over the last couple of years but it may need to be improved again in the near future.

In April 2018, CVS announced it would bump up the minimum pay from $9 an hour to $11 an hour. In addition, it said employees currently making less than the $11/hr starting pay would be given a raise beyond that starting pay.

It also said it would offer more competitive wages to all pharmacy personnel, including cashiers, technicians, and pharmacists, to name a few.

Of course, some jobs other than entry-level associates carry a higher starting wage than $11 an hour. Hopefully, the starting pay will continue to increase in order to keep up with the competitiveness of the industry.

As for now, the minimum pay is on par with stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s.

*** UPDATE — CVS recently announced it would begin increasing hourly wages for its workers beginning in August 2021, and the starting pay will increase to a minimum of $15 an hour by July 2022!

You can research more about applying at CVS here.

What about CVS part-time pay?

The part-time minimum pay is the same as full-time at $11 per hour. However, you don’t receive the benefits a full-time worker does.

How many hours is part-time at CVS?

Any amount of time under 29 hours is considered part-time work at CVS. Usually, you will receive at least 12 hours of work during the week.

As a part-time worker, you can expect to have flexible scheduling and to be able to fill in whenever necessary. Aside from that, you have to understand that even though during some weeks you would work a little over 29 hours, during the next week you would probably work less so that you can stay within the 29 hours a week maximum.

CVS full-time pay has increased.

Here are the minimum hourly wages:

Entry-level associate – $11 an hour
Clerk – $12.20
Photo lab supervisor – $12.55
Beauty advisor – $13.20
Shift supervisor – $13.20
Pharmacy tech – $13.20
Lead tech – $13.95
Pharmacy trainer – $15.20

How many hours is full-time at CVS?

Full-time work is considered 30 hours or more weekly. To be eligible for benefits you must average a continuous year at 30 hours a week or more.

If you are classified as a part-time employee and you begin working more than 30 hours per week, you can become a full-time employee once you average over 30 hours a week for one full year.

How to Call in Sick at CVS

This is important to know because you don’t want to make the wrong move should an emergency arise in your personal life.

You are expected to notify your supervisor immediately when you are going to call out due to illness. Preferably, you need to give a 24-hour notice.

Additionally, it’s in your best interest to get a co-worker to agree to fill in for you or trade a slot so that your shift can be covered.

Here are some important points to remember:

For every 30 hours worked as a part-time employee, you get one hour of sick leave time accumulated.

As a full-time employee, you get approximately 40 hours of sick pay each year.

If you call in sick more than 1 to 2 times a year, it may affect your bonus and your performance review.

If you work part-time and call in sick, you simply don’t get paid for that day unless you have accumulated enough time.

How Much Does CVS Pay Cashiers?

As already mentioned, the starting pay for a cashier or sales associate is $11 an hour. With that said, the average hourly earnings are somewhere in the $13 an hour range.

The average yearly salary is approximately $27,040.

CVS beauty consultant salary

The starting pay for this position is $13.20 an hour. The salary ranges for this position typically hover somewhere around $16 per hour.

So, the salary ranges from $27,456 to $33,280 a year.

What is the CVS pharmacy technician salary?

The salary for this job is identical to the beauty consultant pay, at $13.20 an hour.

The big difference is that while a beauty supervisor tops out at $20.45, a pharmacy tech after five years can make a high of $22.65 an hour.

How much does CVS pay pharmacists?

The average salary for a CVS health pharmacist is currently approx. $69 an hour. This equals $143,520 a year.

The starting pay for this position varies greatly but it averages at approximately $93,000 a year.

What is the CVS store manager salary?

The store manager can make anywhere between 55,000 a year to $107,000 a year.

The average salary is approximately $75,000 per year.

CVS Distribution Center Pay

With 20 distribution centers located in the United States, CVS employs many workers in this division.

Although the starting pay is $11 an hour just as if you were working in the store, a typical warehouse worker makes approximately $13.50 an hour.

There are many other positions within the warehouses, including supervisory positions that are consistent with the salaries of the supervisors working at the stores.

Does CVS Pay Weekly or Biweekly?

It pays you biweekly. The CVS pay period begins on a Saturday and ends on a Sunday. Then, you get paid the following Friday.

So, if you began working full-time on the second Sunday of the pay period, you would get counted as working your five-day workweek at eight hours a day through that same Saturday for a total of 40 hours.

On the following Friday, you would get paid for that one-week period that you joined the company. Your following paycheck would reflect the whole 2-week pay period.

Does this company give raises?

Raises are given annually after a performance review. Usually, you can expect to see a $.25-$.40 raise unless you are promoted to another position. In that case, it would usually be much higher!

The CVS Break Policy

If you are working a six to eight-hour shift, you are entitled to a 30-minute breakfast, lunch, and dinner break.

During an eight-hour shift, you are also entitled to take two 15-minute breaks without having to clock out.

Of course, this also means that if you work a four-hour shift, you are entitled to one 15-minute break.

Katelyn

November 3, 2021 at 10:12 am

I’ve been working for cvs for a total of 10 years now. With a couple breaks in between. Recently the min wage has increased to 14-16 dollars an hour. What is the pay increase for someone who’s worked this long ?

Jennifer Goodwin
November 4, 2021 at 10:56 am

Like a few other retail companies, CVS recently decided to raise its minimum wage over the course of next year. The pay raise will go from $11 to $15 an hour by July 2022 in order to attract quality employees. This DOES NOT mean experienced workers will receive a $4 raise in pay, and it doesn’t mean employees will receive a raise “across the board”. However, you will probably see a higher than normal yearly raise in pay if you are already close to the $15 an hour mark. The best thing you can do is start planting the seed right now with your management team. Ask them how your CVS location is going to handle the raise when it comes to experienced workers.