Costco Keeps Employees Happy Amid Sales Boom

Costco may be a massive corporation, but the retail giant is bucking trends and reversing stereotypes. Ask most employees and they'll tell you, Costco is a great place to work.

Having a huge employer in town keeping workers happy is a big deal. With about 300 worker bees per store—that's at least 1,500 DC area residents gleefully employed thanks to Costco with its five warehouse locations—including stores in Beltsville, Woodmoore, Wheaton, Gaithersburg and DC.

According to the Huffington Post, a typical Costco worker made $45,000 in 2011. Sam's Club (Walmart's answer to Costco) pays its employees an average salary of $17,486 per year. A Target cashier, meanwhile, makes an average hourly wage of $8.07, GlassDoor.com reports.

Not only is Costco leading the wage game, it is also blasting past the competition in financial success. Costco's profit increased 19 percent to $459 million last quarter. Meanwhile, Walmart and Target have both struggled in year-over-year sales with the latter lowering its "earnings forecast for the year... pushing the retailer's profits down 29 percent," the Huffington Post reported.

While Costco pays far above minimum wage, CEO Craig Jelinek is on board with President Obama's proposal to raise that standard (used by Walmart and Target) to $10 per hour nationwide.

The local Costco is located at 10925 Baltimore Ave. in Beltsville. 

Are you a Costco shopper? Would you consider working there? Do you prefer Walmart or Target? Let us know in the comments.