Walmart workers are set to get a huge pay rise with some employees set to see their pay rise to as high as $140,000.
The supermarket chain has revealed it is hiking its pay to 3,700 pharmacists, not including bonuses and incentives, from Wednesday, according to Walmart spokesperson Nick DeMoss.
The increase will bring their total annual average pay to $140,000.
In addition, nearly 4,000 Walmart opticians are due to see their average wage rise to $22.50 per hour in what the retailer described as “another step in our strategy to offer good jobs that lead to great careers.”
In a statement the store said: “Being an employer of choice also means better work life balance and listening to our customers and associates, which we did earlier this year when we adjusted our hours at pharmacies and vision centres across the country."
Walmart is also launching a new Optician Development Program to help pay for workers in obtaining national certifications and will pay for the entire cost of the program.
The chain added: "The program will help our vision associates access higher-paying roles and more career opportunities by obtaining nationally recognized certification and licensure from the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners as they continue to help patients see better to live better.
"The training is offered through the Optical Training Institute and is paid for 100% by Walmart, including reimbursement for any of the fees associated with the certification or licensure."
Walmart, the nation's largest private employer, confirmed it is part of their drive to move into the healthcare field.
During the Covid pandemic, retailers' pharmacies' played a huge role in providing vaccines and treatments - with the company looking to take a larger share of the healthcare market.
The pay rise comes just a year after Walmart raised wages for 36,000 pharmacy technician's, which sees their average hourly pay to more than $20 an hour.
The technicians, who file medicine prescriptions and process third-party insurance, will not be part of the wage announcement, according to Walmart spokesperson Nick DeMoss.
He said pharmacists, unlike technicians, will receive a pay rise because of their higher level of education and increased medical knowledge.
Kevin Host, senior vice president of Walmart's Pharmacy business and David Reitnauer, vice president of its Optical business wrote in a blog post: "We're serious about being an employer of choice for the talented individuals in these fields.
"That's why we're investing in pay raises for thousands of pharmacists and opticians in stores across the country."
In the last few years, companies such as Amazon, Walmart and CVS Health have been expanding their healthcare portfolio by partnering or buying medical companies.
CVS agreed a deal last year to buy Signify Health for around $8billion and Amazon paid $3.49billion to buy primary care provider One Medical.
