Target starting wage ranges from $15 to $24/hr depending on role and location, with a company-wide floor of $15/hr that rises well above it in high-cost markets.

What Is Target Starting Wage in 2026?

Target's company-wide minimum starting wage is $15/hr, applying to cashier, guest advocate, sales floor, and fulfillment roles. In states and cities with a higher legal minimum wage, or in competitive local labor markets, actual starting pay runs higher, up to $24/hr in the highest-cost cities.

A company's published starting pay range typically reflects both its own wage policy and the legal minimum wage floor in each specific market where it operates, whichever is higher.

Target Starting Pay by Market

  • Lower cost-of-living states (e.g. Oklahoma): typically start at the $15/hr company floor.
  • National average (Cashier/Guest Advocate): roughly $16-$17/hr.
  • High-cost cities (NYC, LA, San Francisco): $20-$24/hr.

Does Target Pay the Same for Every Role?

No. Cashier and Guest Advocate roles, Sales Floor Team Members, Fulfillment and Drive Up Associates, and Style/Beauty Team Members all fall within a similar $15-$22/hr band, but exact pay depends on the specific role, store location, and local labor market, not a single flat company-wide number above the $15 floor.

How Does Target's Pay Compare to Other Retailers?

Target's $15/hr company floor matches Home Depot's starting wage, sits above Walmart's $14/hr floor, but is below Costco's $20/hr and Hobby Lobby's $20.15/hr full-time starting rates. See our corporate wage guides for the full lineup.

How Does Target's Pay Compare to the Federal Minimum Wage?

Target's $15/hr floor is more than double the $7.25/hr federal minimum wage, and its highest big-city rates of up to $24/hr are well over three times the federal floor. That gap reflects both company policy and the higher legal minimum wage already in place in cities like New York and San Francisco.

How Can I Find Target's Exact Starting Pay at a Specific Store?

Target publishes the pay range for each open position directly on its careers site, since starting pay is set at the store and market level rather than nationally beyond the $15/hr floor.

How Was This Pay Data Determined?

Target's $15/hr company floor comes from the company's own published pay and benefits information. The role-by-role and city-specific ranges combine that published data with aggregator platforms like Glassdoor and Gridwise, which reflect self-reported pay from current and former employees and update on an ongoing basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Target's starting pay?

A $15/hr company-wide floor, rising to as much as $24/hr in high-cost cities depending on role and location.

Does Target pay more in expensive cities?

Yes. Stores in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco typically start at $20-$24/hr, well above the $15/hr company floor.

Is Target's starting pay the same as Walmart's?

No. Target's $15/hr floor is $1/hr higher than Walmart's $14/hr company-wide minimum.

How do I find the pay for a specific Target job?

Each listing on Target's careers site includes the exact pay range for that specific store and position.

See every state's current minimum wage to compare against Target's $15/hr company floor.

Pay ranges reflect Target's own published corporate pay information alongside aggregator data (Glassdoor, Gridwise); actual starting pay for any specific store is set at the local level.