Lowe’s, America’s more-than-century-old hardware chain and the official home improvement sponsor of the NFL, employs around 300,000 individuals across over 2,000 stores in the U.S. Due to its size and nationwide prolificacy, the blue-clad big-box chain has become a popular option for job-seekers across the country, many of whom wonder how Lowe’s starting wages compare to those of its competitors.

So, how much do new Lowe’s employees make across the five types of entry-level positions offered by the chain’s stores? What benefits come with the job? And how does working there compare to working for the chain’s larger, richer, and younger competitor — The Home Depot?

Related: How much does Home Depot pay? Hourly wages for new employees

How much does Lowe’s pay? Starting wages for entry-level jobs

In general, starting wages for new employees in entry-level roles at Lowe’s retail stores range from $14 to $25.90 per hour depending on store location, experience, and department.

Lowe’s careers site only lists starting pay ranges for job openings in California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, as these states require employers to do so. Starting wages vary significantly between stores, and positions in cities with higher costs of living typically offer higher starting pay.

The pay ranges below are based on job postings for open roles in the above states as of early 2024.

Sales specialist: $17–$24.60

Sales specialists at Lowe’s are primarily responsible for customer experience. As the name implies, each specialist “specializes” in a particular area of the store, like appliances, flooring, millwork, or ProServices (see FAQ for more on this department).

Sales specialists are experts in their department and are tasked with greeting browsing customers, asking them about their needs, helping them find appropriate products, and explaining those products in depth as they relate to the customer’s project. Sales specialists may also be tasked with maintaining the cleanliness and safety of their section.

• Starting pay range: $17–$24.60 per hour
• Possible shifts: Opening, day, closing (FT & PT)
• Requirements: High school diploma or GED and one year of external experience in customer-facing sales (or six months of Lowe’s retail experience)

Customer service associate: $14–$18

Customer service associates are Lowe’s frontline workers. They typically support a particular department, like windows and walls, flooring, tool rental, live nursery, or others.

Employees in customer service roles are responsible for greeting customers, helping them find what they need, and assisting them with things like price checks and loading/unloading large or unwieldy merchandise while supporting their department with cleaning and stocking during downtime. They also use store computers and smart devices to process orders and invoices.

• Starting pay range: When this article was published, Lowe’s had no open positions listed on its careers site in any of the states that mandate starting wage ranges be included in job postings. Indeed pegged the average wage for customer service associates at $14.57 per hour (within a possible range of $7.35–$23.35), while Glassdoor put the average at $16 (within a likely range of $14–$18).
• Possible shifts: Opening, day, closing (FT & PT)
• Requirements: Six months experience with computers and smart devices and the ability to use common retail technology

Merchandising service associate: $16–$25.90

While Lowe’s merchandising service associates may interact with customers from time to time, the bulk of their time is spent doing more labor-intensive work. These employees are responsible for maintaining and adjusting the pallet-rack shelving used throughout most of the store, creating and maintaining product displays according to planograms (visual merchandising diagrams) provided by Lowe’s corporate, creating and maintaining signage, and identifying and removing damaged merchandise.

In some cases, merchandising service associates may use heavy machines like lifts and order pickers in their work, but certification and experience with heavy machinery are not required prior to hiring. Many merchandising shifts occur when stores are closed and involve preparing the store’s stock and displays for the following day, so overnight shifts are common.

• Starting pay range: $16–$25.90 per hour (most jobs fall on the lower end of this range)
• Possible shifts: Overnight, weekend, opening, day, closing (FT & PT)
• Requirements: Basic reading, writing, arithmetic, and computer skills; overnight and weekend availability

Cashier: $14.50–$22.20

Cashiers at Lowe’s are expected to provide friendly and helpful customer service while efficiently scanning and bagging customer merchandise. Cashiers must maintain a clean and safe checkout area, answer any questions customers may have during the checkout process, and call on free associates to help customers carry merchandise and load their cars.

• Starting pay range: $14.50–$22.20 (most jobs start at between $15.50 and 17.50)
• Possible shifts: Opening, day, closing (FT & PT)
• Requirements: Six months experience with computer systems and retail technology

Receiver/stocker: $14.50–$21.00

Receivers and stockers at Lowe’s have one of the more physical jobs in the store. They are responsible for clearing receiving areas prior to incoming shipments, unloading shipments from trucks as they arrive, restocking merchandise in the store, and keeping overstock organized.

Receivers and stockers spend the bulk of their shifts on their feet doing physical tasks and may handle hazardous materials or use machinery, so attention to detail and the proper implementation of safety procedures are of the utmost importance.

• Starting pay range: $14.50–$21.00 (most starting wages skew toward the lower end of this range)
• Possible shifts: Overnight, opening, day, closing (FT & PT)
• Requirements: Basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills; the ability to work on one’s feet and handle heavy lifting

What benefits do Lowe’s employees get?

• Health: Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance; mental healthcare resources
• Financial: Employer-sponsored 401(k) accounts with up to 4.25% matching on 6% paycheck contributions; profit-sharing bonuses; 10% employee discount on merchandise; 15% discounted company stock purchases
• Time off: 10–15 days combined time off upon hire — balances increase with tenure; 10 weeks maternity leave; 4 weeks parental leave
• Education: Tuition-free education assistance for certain programs; “Track to the Trades” certification assistance program

Lowe’s vs. Home Depot: Which is the better employer?

Lowe’s and Home Depot are the two largest home improvement chains in the world, so it makes sense that prospective employees might want to compare the two before deciding where to pursue a career.

Home Depot ranks far higher (#59) on Forbes’ 2023 list of the world’s best employers than Lowe’s(#323). Home Depot also instituted a company-wide minimum wage of $15 per hour in February of 2023, while Lowe’s does not offer a company-wide minimum wage, and jobs in the $13–$14 per hour range are not uncommon in some areas.

Additionally, Home Depot may be the better choice for those seeking long-term growth and career advancement, as Home Depot beats Lowe’s in terms of many important financial metrics — including total sales, profitability, and cash flow — despite having existed for less than half as long. Home Depot also has more total stores and employees and processed almost twice as many unique transactions as Lowe’s in 2022.

Lowe’s used to do business in Canada, Mexico, and Australia, but its foreign branches have all closed or been sold to other brands, while The Home Depot still maintains stores in Canada and Mexico.

Despite all this, Lowe’s has racked up quite a few accolades as an employer. It was the first-ever recipient of the Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award in Retail in 2010, was named one of the best places to work by the Disability Equality Index (DEI) in 2023, received the Human Rights Campaign’s 2023–24 Equality 100 Award for being a leader in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, and was named one of 2024’s most military-friendly employers.

All of this being said, the hardware chain has also been the subject of several high-profile environmental, labor, and advertising controversies over the past few decades.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about jobs at Lowes

Below are answers to some of the most common questions job seekers have about working at Lowe’s that were not addressed in the sections above.

When is the best time to apply for a job at Lowe’s?

According to the company’s website, January and February mark the company’s peak hiring season.

What is a Lowe’s Service Star Award?

Service star awards are small patches handed out by management to recognize Lowe’s employees who go “above and beyond.” Little is known about the decision-making process behind these awards, but many employees have speculated that they can result from being named in a positive light by a customer in a survey or phone call.

What is Lowe’s ProServices?

Lowe’s ProServices is a department/loyalty program catered toward professional customers who buy in bulk — i.e., contractors and other business customers. These clients are entitled to dedicated service, discounts, and exclusive rewards.