Supermarket Workers

Employers

More than 3.2 million people work as wage and salary employees of food and beverage stores, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were 77,021 supermarkets and grocery stores in the United States in 2024, according to IBISWorld. These stores had more than $1 trillion in sales in 2023, according to FMI, The Food Industry Association. Supermarkets are located across the nation, in towns and cities. Some are part of a large chain such as Kroger, Wal-Mart Supercenters, and Safeway. Other stores are part of smaller chains or are independently owned.

Workers usually have more employment opportunities in cities and large towns where several stores are located. In smaller towns, only one or two stores may serve the area.

Starting Out

Groceries use walk-in applications, job drives, and newspaper ads to attract new employees. Some supermarket jobs require little education and pay a modest hourly rate, so there are often openings as workers move on to other positions or career fields. Dress neatly and have good manners when applying for supermarket jobs in person. Be prepared to fill out application materials at the office. Many of today's grocery managers started out as high school clerks or cashiers. It is possible to turn a part-time job into a full-time career.