How long has Ron Vachris been at Costco?

Ron Vachris has been with Costco (including its predecessor, Price Club) for over 40 years, starting as a part-time forklift driver in the early 1980s and working his way up through nearly every part of the business to become CEO in January 2024, a rare "company lifer" story.

When did Ron Vachris start working at Costco?

Ron Vachris (born 1965) is an American business executive and the CEO of Costco. He started at the company as a forklift driver in the 1980s.

How long has the CEO been at Costco?

Ron M. Vachris has been a director of the Company since February 2022, and Chief Executive Officer and President since January 2024.

Who are the top executives at Costco?

Executives

• Roland M. Vachris President, CEO, COO & Executive Director.
• Gary Millerchip Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President.
• Javier Polit Chief Information Officer & Executive VP.

How much does the CEO of Costco make per year?

Costco's current CEO, Ron Vachris, received a total compensation package of approximately $13.9 million for the 2025 fiscal year, including a base salary of around $1.1 million and significant stock awards, while his predecessor, Craig Jelinek, earned over $16.8 million in 2023, demonstrating a generally lower pay ratio compared to some retail peers, notes Salary.com and Business Insider.
 

Costco CEO Breaks Down How a Kirkland Product Gets Made | WSJ

What is the highest paid position in Costco?

Costco's highest-paying jobs are generally in specialized fields like Pharmacist, earning over $150k/year, and tech roles such as Database Administrator (around $140k) and Software Developer (over $115k), while warehouse roles like Unloader can reach $80k+ hourly, and skilled positions like Senior Accountant and Business Architect also command six figures, showcasing a wide range of well-compensated opportunities beyond typical retail. 

What is Vicki Hollub's salary?

Vicki Hollub, CEO of Occidental Petroleum, received total compensation around $17.7 million to $18.5 million in 2023, primarily driven by non-salary components like stock and incentives, with her base salary being around $1.5 million; figures vary slightly by source, but consistently show large incentive-based compensation. For example, in 2023, she earned roughly $4.85M in cash and over $12M in equity, totaling around $17.7M. 

What is the most a Costco employee can make?

Average Costco Wholesale hourly pay ranges from approximately $18.00 per hour for Store Shopper to $79.90 per hour for Pharmacy Manager. The average Costco Wholesale salary ranges from approximately $20,000 per year for Customer Service Associate / Cashier to $147,330 per year for Pharmacy Manager.

Is the owner of Costco a Democrat or Republican?

Costco's official stance is non-partisan, stating they don't take sides in politics or contribute to candidates; however, individual employees and executives, including CEO Craig Jelinek, might have personal leanings, but the company aims to keep its stores apolitical for member comfort, focusing on community support through nonprofits like Feeding America rather than partisan donations. 

Is an executive at Costco worth it?

Yes, the Costco Executive Membership is worth it if you spend over roughly $3,250 annually at Costco, as the 2% cashback ($65) covers the extra $60 fee, and it offers extra perks like early shopping hours, discounts on services, and a monthly Instacart credit, making it a no-brainer for frequent shoppers or those who value convenience and extra savings on big purchases like tires or travel. 

Is Ron Vachris a good CEO?

Vachris, 60, is succeeding as corporate titan. Costco is the world's third-largest retailer, with 897 warehouses in 14 regions around the globe. During fiscal year 2024, Costco had $254 billion in revenue, up 5% from the previous year. Industry experts concluded that Vachris was a driving force of that success.

Which 3 states don't have a Costco?

The three U.S. states that do not have a Costco warehouse are Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming, primarily due to lower population densities and economic factors that don't align with Costco's high-volume business model, though there have been discussions about opening stores in some of these areas.
 

What is Ron Vachris's personal life?

Vachris is a father to three adult kids — two sons and a daughter — with his wife, Kim. He also has one granddaughter, whom he has pictures of all over his cubicle. His free time is family time, he told South Sound Business. "I'm pretty transparent," Vachris said.

Why did Richard Galanti leave Costco?

Looking ahead, Galanti said he also has plans to spend more time with family and travel. There is one thing that he hasn't loved, and that is the increased regulations that public companies must grapple with.

Does Costco support LGBTQ?

Yes, Costco actively supports the LGBTQ+ community through inclusive workplace policies, benefits, training, and public statements, earning high scores from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and positive feedback from employees and LGBTQ+ advocates for fostering an accepting environment and standing firm on its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments. 

What is the highest paid job at Costco?

Costco's highest-paying jobs are generally in specialized fields like Pharmacist, earning over $150k/year, and tech roles such as Database Administrator (around $140k) and Software Developer (over $115k), while warehouse roles like Unloader can reach $80k+ hourly, and skilled positions like Senior Accountant and Business Architect also command six figures, showcasing a wide range of well-compensated opportunities beyond typical retail. 

Why are we boycotting Costco?

People are boycotting Costco due to its strong stance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, drawing backlash from those who want these programs dismantled, particularly supporters of President Trump. Simultaneously, some customers are also upset with Costco for suing the Trump administration over recent tariffs, viewing it as a political move, while others are protesting Costco's sale of products from Israeli companies with operations in occupied territories, according to reports from late 2024 and early 2025. 

Is Costco a China-owned company?

Costco is a Washington corporation, publicly traded under the Nasdaq ticker symbol "COST", with its home office in Issaquah, Washington.

Does Costco really pay $21 an hour?

Yes, Costco does pay around $21 an hour, especially for new or junior employees as of early 2025, with minimums rising to $20 and junior clerks reaching $21 in 2026, while top average wages for all roles can exceed $30/hour with experience and new raises. Pay varies by role, location, and tenure, with recent agreements pushing starting pay higher and offering significant raises, making $21 an hour a realistic figure for many, particularly entry-level staff. 

What is top pay for Costco cashier?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $38,000 and as low as $16,000, the majority of Costco Cashier salaries currently range between $23,500 (25th percentile) to $32,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $36,000 annually across the United States.

Is Costco really paying $30 an hour?

Yes, Costco is paying many hourly employees over $30 an hour, especially those at the top of their pay scale, with increases to $30.20 per hour announced in early 2025 for non-union workers, with further bumps planned over the next couple of years, making it industry-leading pay. These raises were part of a new agreement for non-union staff, with union workers also seeing improvements after negotiating a new contract, though union members' pay scales are separate and negotiated. 

What is St. Jude's CEOs salary?

The CEO of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Dr. James R. Downing, receives substantial compensation, with figures from 2020 showing total compensation around $2.3 million and more recent sources from late 2024 indicating figures over $2.4 million, including bonuses and incentives, though exact recent figures can vary slightly by reporting. Richard Shadyac, the CEO of ALSAC (St. Jude's fundraising arm), earns a separate, significant salary, with figures reported in the range of $1 million to over $1.4 million annually for recent years.
 

Does Amazon pay $300,000 a year?

Yes, Amazon absolutely pays $300k a year, especially for senior corporate, tech, and specialized roles, with the company significantly raising its maximum base salary to $350,000 in 2022 to attract and keep top talent in a competitive market, though total compensation includes base pay, stock, and bonuses, often pushing figures well over $300k. 

What is Walmart's CEO salary?

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon's total compensation in his final year (Fiscal Year 2025/Calendar 2024) was around $27.5 million, primarily from stock awards, with a $1.5 million base salary, as he retired at the end of January 2026. While McMillon's compensation was significant, Walmart's new global CEO, John Furner, will take over, with his pay structure including a base salary and large equity awards, alongside other top executives receiving multi-million dollar packages.