Grocery Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Grocery Associate make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Grocery Associate in the United States is $35,747 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a Grocery Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $40,334
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,246 to $38,148
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,969
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View as table View as graph 25% $33,246 10% $30,969 90% $40,334 75% $38,148 $35,747 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Grocery Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $38,148 $3,179 $734 $18
Average $35,747 $2,979 $687 $17
25th Percentile $33,246 $2,771 $639 $16
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Key Factors That Influence Grocery Associate Salaries

A Grocery Associate's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Grocery Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Grocery Associate's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $35,747
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $35,997
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $36,574
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $36,689
  • Expert (over 8 years): $36,766
Levels Salary
Entry Level Grocery Associate$35,747
Intermediate Level Grocery Associate$35,997
Senior Level Grocery Associate$36,574
Specialist Level Grocery Associate$36,689
Expert Level Grocery Associate$36,766
$35,747 0 yr
$35,997 < 2 yrs
$36,574 2-4 yrs
$36,689 5-8 yrs
$36,766 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Grocery Associate Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Grocery Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $39,579.
  • California: $39,429.
  • Massachusetts: $38,903.

Top Paying Cities for Grocery Associates

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $45,088
  • San Francisco: $44,644
  • Oakland: $43,654

What Skills Can Increase a Grocery Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 38.34% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Billing (Mentioned in 1.78% Job Postings): Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
  • Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 1.06% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 38.34%
Billing 1.78%
Quality Assurance 1.06%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Grocery Associate's salary.
  • Billing: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Data Entry: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Call Center: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Billing
$46,114
29%
Data Entry
$44,326
24%
Call Center
$43,611
22%
Microsoft Office
$42,896
20%
WFM
$38,607
8%
Accountability
$37,892
6%
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How Education impacts a Grocery Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Grocery Associates enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Grocery Associate with a No Diploma is between $27,983 and $30,560).

Grocery Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Grocery Associate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.7%
High School 60.9%
Associates 8.7%
Bachelors 21.7%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Grocery Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Grocery Associate's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Grocery Associate

Salaries for a Grocery Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $37,134 in 2023 to around $37,217 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Grocery Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Grocery Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$37,134
2024
$37,407
2025
$37,217
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $37,134
2024 $37,407
2025 $37,217
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Grocery Associate

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Grocery Associate

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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