![Costco to Raise Starting Hourly Wage to $16; End Hazard Pay](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/03/Costco1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Costco to Raise Starting Hourly Wage to $16; End Hazard Pay
NEW YORK (AP) -- Costco will increase its starting wage to $16 an hour, surpassing most of its main competitors at a time when efforts to raise the minimum wage are gaining traction in the U.S.
Costco CEO Craig Jelinek announced the increase Thursday at a Senate Budget Committee hearing, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, to examine wages at major companies.
Jelinek said the starting wage for Costco employees would rise to $16 next week, up from $15 the company instituted two year ago.
The starting wage scale puts Costco above competitors including Amazon, Target and Best Buy, which have $15 minimum wages. Walmart's starting pay is $11 an hour.
![AM 1240 WJON logo](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/11/attachment-wjonam-alexacard-big.jpg?w=100)
Get our free mobile app
Advice from Minnesotans to Southerners Experiencing Winter
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Costco Membership Prices To Increase; The Dogs Are Staying Put](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/07/attachment-IMG_20240711_084631608_HDR.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Sign of the Apocalypse: Costco is Hiking Prices](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/05/attachment-OPE-6.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Odd: This Minnesota Costco Apparently Doesn’t Carry A Food Staple](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/03/attachment-Hollywood-Terminal-via-YouTube.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![We Now Know What These Green Price Tags Mean At Minnesota Costco’s!](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2023/08/attachment-grant-beirute-h8vRkLRIhak-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Costco Holding Special Membership Offer for Veterans](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/03/Costco1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Veterans Can Shop at Costco in St. Cloud Without a Membership on November 11](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2021/09/attachment-GettyImages-53078402-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Costco Making Changes, Requiring Shoppers to Wear Face Masks](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/11/Costco1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Costco Limiting the Number of Members in Its Stores](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/06/Costco-4.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Lawsuit Against St. Cloud Dismissed by Stearns County Judge](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/07/STEARNS-COUNTY-COURT-HOUSE.jpg?w=980&q=75)