While there is plenty to be excited about when it comes to thinking about a long-term career at Food Lion, the short term is what can hurt you. The starting pay for this retail supermarket store is unusually low and inadequate for most people who apply.
As you’ll see below, even though the minimum hourly pay is not up to standards, the chance to advance within the company is excellent.
Below, you’ll see many important details such as:
- The Food Lion starting pay
- The number of hours you will work full-time
- Part-time hours
- Examples of shifts you will be working
- The jobs available and their average hourly wages and salaries
- When you get paid by Food Lion
- Pay raises
- The break policy
- Dress code
Food Lion Starting Pay
So, how much does Food Lion pay per hour once you’re hired? The average starting pay is approximately $9.15 an hour.
Even at H-E-B where the starting pay for a bagger is approximately $10 an hour, the average beginning hourly wage for other workers is $14 an hour. This is a far higher starting salary and worth looking into if there is an H-E-B store in your area.
At Publix, the average starting pay is anywhere between $10-$12 an hour. Therefore, Food Lion, as successful as the company is, pays its workers a very low entry-level hourly rate. If you are looking for a higher-paying job right from the start, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Food Lion Full-Time Hours
On average, full-time workers at Food Lion get anywhere from 31 to 40 hours of work every week. This does not include the occasional overtime that presents itself when a coworker calls out sick.
Part-Time Hours
Scheduled part-time hours are anywhere between 15 to 29 hours a week. Management teams tend to give high-performing associates more hours than those who have yet to prove themselves.
Therefore, if you start out during your first week of employment with just a handful of hours, keep your chin up and work hard so you can impress your management. You may be able to secure many more hours of weekly scheduled work in a short amount of time.
Food Lion Shift Hours
Here are some examples of shifts while working at the stores:
- 7 AM to 3 PM
- 8 AM to 12 PM
- 2 PM to 10 PM
- 3 PM to 11 PM
- 6 PM to 10 PM
Of course, shift hours vary between stores. However, the above-mentioned ones are some of the most common shift hours you’ll find at Food Lion.
Food Lion Pay
The average Food Lion pay rate varies between different positions. The following information will give you a detailed explanation of the average pay you can possibly expect after getting hired at Food Lion.
Food Lion Associate Pay
The average associate who has been working for a couple of years earns approximately $10.85 an hour. This amounts to $434 a week and a yearly salary of $22,568.
In many states in the US, this is well below a living wage for one adult. However, with a little overtime sprinkled here and there, you can turn this figure into approximately $25,500 a year.
Food Lion Cashier Pay
The average Food Lion cashier makes approximately $10.45 an hour. This would be approximately $418 a week and $21,736 a year.
Again, working some overtime can push this salary close to $25,000 a year.
To-Go Associate Pay
The average hourly pay for a To-Go associate at Food Lion is approximately $9.85 an hour. That’s about $394 a week and a yearly salary of $20,488.
To-Go Lead associates lead their teams in this department and can make approximately $11.20 an hour. That amount gives these workers approximately $448 a week in pay and a salary of $23,296 every year.
Department Manager Salaries
The average hourly wage for department managers throughout Food Lion stores is approximately $17.30 an hour. This equals about $692 a week and $35,984 a year.
Since these positions are non-exempt and paid on an hourly basis, you have the opportunity to make some overtime. This is why it’s not uncommon for department managers to earn a little over $40,000 a year.
Food Lion Assistant Manager Salary
Salaries for assistant manager at Food Lion range anywhere between $33,200 a year to $66,500. The average assistant manager makes approximately $52,750 a year.
This does not include a yearly cash bonus anywhere between $3,000 to $5,000.
Food Lion Manager Salary
The salary for a store manager at Food Lion can range between $37,000 a year to $88,300. The average store manager makes approximately $61,100 a year.
The additional pay for this position can average anywhere between $15,000-$18,000 a year in cash bonuses and profit sharing.
Does Food Lion pay weekly?
Food Lion employees get paid biweekly every other Wednesday if it’s with a paper check, and every other Tuesday if it is direct deposit.
If you are not able to sign up for a direct deposit, you will get your first check through the mail. Alternatively, you will also have the opportunity to use a payment card if you so desire.
Pay Raises at Food Lion
Food Lion workers receive a yearly evaluation somewhere between March and April of every year. Based on these results, they can receive up to a 3% raise in pay.
There are exceptions where management feels it’s necessary to raise a worker’s pay based on an exceptional performance. Therefore, a new employee can actually receive a raise in pay much sooner than the one-year anniversary date.
Break Policy
Employees at Food Lion get two paid 15-minute breaks for every shift of 6 hours or more. You’ll also be able to have a meal break if you work a shift of 5 1/2 hours or more and it will occur usually somewhere near the five-hour mark. If you are interested in applying, use this link to the official careers site.
Dress Code
The uniform for Food Lion consists of a company-issued blue polo shirt with a name tag and a company logo. You’ll have to purchase either black or khaki pants. Additionally, you’re required to buy your own black belt and black or brown shoes.
Body piercings are allowed except for associates working in the deli/bakery. Tattoos are acceptable unless they are offensive to customers, in which case you must cover them. Also, most stores require that you have naturally colored hair.
