Walgreens is well known as one of the largest retail drug chains in America, boasting thousands of locations across the nation. While many people shop at Walgreens stores simply to purchase groceries and household items, others come for the pharmacy services offered by trained professionals.

If you’re looking for a career with stability and plenty of opportunities for growth, Walgreens may be the place for you. Here we’ll take a look at some of the things that make Walgreens such an attractive place to work, as well as outline some of the most popular career paths within the company.

1. What Is Walgreens?

Walgreens was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1901 by both well respected and controversial Charles R. Walgreen Sr. The company started off small, selling drugs to local customers. Many of these early customers frequented drug stores during the Prohibition era because they sold alcoholic beverages as well.

Over time, Walgreens grew larger and larger, expanding across the country. Now, there are thousands of locations in all 50 states, with Walgreens being one of the most popular places to shop for prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. They also have a line of products that are sold in-store.

Much like CVS, Walgreens is known for its rewards program and coupons that can be found online or at the locations themselves.

2. What Do Walgreens Sell?

In addition to selling groceries and household items at their retail locations, Walgreens also offers a wide range of health and beauty products. These include cosmetics, fragrances, hair care products, skincare products, and more.

In addition to these products, Walgreens also stocks a wide range of over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs. These include contraceptives, flu shots, blood pressure medication, prenatal vitamins, etc.

For those looking for beauty services such as manicures and haircuts, Walgreens also offers salon services at many locations.

3. Where Do Walgreens Hire?

Walgreens operates a chain of over 9,000 stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Originally founded as a Chicago-based drugstore, from which its name is derived, the company focused on pharmaceuticals for most of the 20th century. In 2006, however, it re-branded itself as a retail pharmacy more generally, selling other healthcare products as well as medicines.

Walgreens has a physical presence in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, but not all of them have Walgreens stores. The majority of its stores are located across the Southern and Midwestern states, with fewer in New England and along the Eastern Seaboard. California has twice as many stores as any other state, with around 700 Walgreens outlets.

The company has an official policy of hiring hundreds of new employees every day at its 8,100+ locations across the U.S., with most stores accepting walk-in applications. Some stores require potential employees to fill out forms in advance, which means that they will be ready to accept your application on the spot when you go to submit it.

4. What Are the Requirements of Walgreens?

In most cases, formal education is not necessary for employment with Walgreens. However, depending on the position for which you are applying, a high school diploma or equivalent may be required. In some states, training in pharmacy practice and laws is mandatory for all pharmacists employed by Walgreens, but not for other positions.

Many entry-level positions with Walgreens require a high school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED).

From there, you might need to pass an aptitude test and/or drug screen. Once that’s out of the way, you will attend training at their Chicago headquarters. This may vary depending on what position you’re applying for. After training is complete, employees with Walgreens often move onto store-specific training, which is also provided by corporate headquarters.

5. What Are the Salaries of Walgreens?

Walgreens employees earn competitive wages at all levels, with entry-level positions often offering higher salaries than their counterparts at other retail establishments. Entry-level positions typically pay $11 or $12 an hour, while full-time workers may see wages up to $27 an hour.

As employees gain experience and complete necessary training programs, their wages increase. This is especially true for those with the highest level of education – pharmacists, for example, who are expected to earn around $100k annually if they work full time.

6. Walgreens Career Opportunities

There are several different career paths available to potential employees of Walgreens. Some of them are:

Retail sales associates- These are the workers you’ll see manning cash registers, stocking shelves, and helping customers with their products.

Pharmacy technicians- This position requires formal training in pharmacy practices. Individuals who have completed at least six months of this training are eligible to become pharmacy technicians. These individuals can help prepare prescriptions for customers while working under the supervision of a pharmacist.

Pharmacist- Aspiring pharmacists will need to complete four years of post-graduate training in order to practice, but those who do are eligible for upper-level positions at Walgreens. Pharmacists typically make around the same as other top executives at Walgreens, depending on their level of education and experience.

Customer service associates- This position is similar to the retail associate and requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Those who have completed training in customer service can often work their way up the ranks with ease.

Sales management- Employees with extensive managerial experience typically pursue careers as sales managers at Walgreens. In addition to 4 years of post-graduate education, candidates must have two years of supervisory experience in order to qualify for these positions.

Field services- This position is typically intended for pharmacists who would like to specialize in the distribution of drugs. Candidates are required to have completed six months of training in drug distribution.

7. How Do I Apply at Walgreens?

You may be able to walk into a Walgreens store and apply on the spot for a position. Or, you may need to complete an online application process. In most cases, Walgreens will ask you to submit a resume along with your application. If a specific position requires education or experience, however, be sure to include this information in your resume when submitting it with your application.

Walgreens has an online application process that is likely the easiest way to apply for most positions. Applicants may create an account on the Walgreens website in order to access this application portal.

Doing so will also allow you to check the status of your submitted applications and resumes, contact potential employers directly through the site, or share job opportunities with friends and family.

8. What Skills Are Needed to Become a Walgreens Employee?

Walgreens jobs require a broad range of skills in order to be successfully completed. These include:

Ability to serve customers effectively- You’ll need to be able to answer questions about products, provide assistance with their purchases, and ensure that customers are satisfied at all times in order to succeed in this position.

Critical thinking skills- Walgreens careers require employees to make critical decisions on a regular basis, so you’ll need the ability to think critically in order to excel.

Strong verbal communication skills– You can expect to interact with customers directly throughout your career at Walgreens. This means that speaking clearly and effectively will be essential for success.

Organizational skills- Being able to manage time, prioritize tasks, and organize effectively are all qualities that are desirable in potential employees at Walgreens.

Self-management skills- You’ll need to be able to transition between roles as needed, provide feedback to your employer, and take on new projects as they emerge throughout your career. If you can do so effectively, this will often lead to advancement opportunities.

9. What Benefits Does Walgreens Offer?

Walgreens offers a number of benefits for employees, including:

Health insurance- In many cases, Walgreens will offer health insurance options to full and part-time employees. These plans may include vision or dental coverage as well. Some positions even require you to enroll in the company plan as a condition of your employment.

Retirement savings- Full-time employees are often given the opportunity to participate in the Walgreens Retirement Savings Plan, which is also commonly referred to as a 401(k). Employees can typically contribute up to 15% of their annual income to this account.

Time off- Salaried and full-time employees are typically given the opportunity to take time off for vacation, holidays, personal days, and sick days.

Tuition reimbursement- Full-time Walgreens employees may be eligible to receive tuition assistance or reimbursement as part of their benefits package.

This is often reserved for employees who are currently enrolled in school or working toward their degree.

10. How Does Walgreens Compare to Other Stores?

Walmart, CVS Health, and Rite Aid are some of the biggest competitors for jobs at Walgreens. However, if you’re interested in health care careers, you may find opportunities at these stores as well.

A full-time cashier at Walmart, for example, earns an average of $9.00 per hour in total compensation (including tips). These employees typically work part-time hours.

At CVS Health, a pharmacy technician or sales manager makes an average of $11.50 per hour in total pay. This includes overtime, tips, and bonuses.

At Rite Aid, pharmacy technicians earn an average of $10.40 per hour. Employees who work in this role typically hold part-time hours.

A pharmacy technician at Walgreens makes an average of $12.63 per hour in total pay. This figure does not include overtime or tips.

11. How Long Does it Take to Become a Walgreens Manager?

After six years of experience as a pharmacy technician, an employee can apply for a manager position with the company. At this point, they will need to participate in a management training program and a new hire orientation course before being considered eligible for the promotion. From there, managers are often given the opportunity to advance within the company, take on new leadership roles, or move into other departments.

Although this is not an overnight process, it typically only takes around six years for full-time employees to become managers at Walgreens. This can vary depending upon your career goals and performance reviews throughout the employment process.

12. What Is the Job Outlook for a Walgreens Employee?

The job outlook for employees at Walgreens is promising. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for pharmacy technicians and assistants will grow by 18% from 2016 to 2026. This represents an estimated 111,700 new jobs in this time period.

With a larger emphasis on preventative care and wellness in today’s society, it is expected that jobs within the health care industry will continue to grow across all areas. This is especially true for occupations that directly affect patient care.

Accordingly, we can expect that there will be continued growth in available jobs at Walgreens as well as other similar retail stores and pharmacies.

Conclusion

The Walgreens career path is one that can offer employees many opportunities for growth and development. With a variety of positions available in both the retail and corporate settings, there are many options to choose from when looking for a fulfilling career. Employees who are dedicated and committed to their work will find that there are many ways to move up within the company. With such a large corporation, it is possible to find a job that fits your interests and skills while also providing you with stability and room for advancement. Good luck!!