crew member

cashier

assistant manager

assistant store manager

delivery driver

Trader Joes

Trader Joe's…what a great place--to shop. When I started at Trader Joe's five years ago it actually was a pretty good place to work. The starting pay was average for the time, $10/hr. The benefits were good and what a great 401K plan. The hours were relatively flexible and it was incredibly laid-back and fun. Most everyone worked hard and it was a fun environment. The customers could sense this genuine good feeling, and everyone was happy. You could basically choose what kind of work you wanted to do depending on your interest (demo, cashier, stocking, helms, etc.) The raises were great too. The company really stuck to their core values of integrity and "kaizen" (constant improvement and betterment for customers and workers.)

However, this is no longer the case. Trader Joe's now merely pays lip service to these values as it has become more corporate and profit-focused. In 2013, the company eliminated health insurance for anyone working under 30 hours per week, and the year prior to that cut back on raises. The 401K disbursements, while arguably better than many other companies, also shrank by one-third. In the meantime, profits and sales were on the rise and Trader Joe's began to open more stores than ever. There are no shareholders, so all this money goes to fund the members of one of the wealthiest families in Europe. Meanwhile, the average crew member does not earn a living wage and hours are not consistent. These changes led to many of my great co-workers leaving the company. The new people they hired have no idea how it used to be. All they know is it is better than their old job at Wal-Mart. Grapes of Wrath anyone?

I've gotten all my raises and had glowing reviews, but I still make less than $15/hr. When I moved to a new city with a higher cost of living I found out that they were starting some new crew members at nearly what I was making even though I had been with the company for almost five years. They refused to raise my pay to match the cost of living or inflation. I barely make more than Chicago minimum wage now. This is totally unacceptable.

At the store I work at, everything an employee does is now highly micro-managed. There is no say in what kind of work one prefers. Managers constantly watch employees. There are no, "thanks for doing a great job." They are just ready to pounce on you when you stop to take a breath. There are no breaks. Yet, we are still expected to pretend to be happy Trader Joe's crew members in the hyperreality of Trader Joe's.

Granted, after reading the reviews here, many crew members like working for Trader Joe's. Yet, it is my firm belief that they are not class conscious, or, as I mentioned, they are new so they don't know how good it used to be. They only know it is better than slaving in a warehouse or for Wal-Mart. And, yes it is. The management constantly tells us this too, as the company whittles away benefits. However, comparing Trader Joe's to Wal-Mart is like comparing something to dog ****. Of course anything is better than dog ****, so the logic is misguided and incredibly misleading. What happened to kaizen?

Alienation: Even with the nominal ten-percent discount on food (meaning Trader Joe's makes profits off me too) I cannot afford to shop at Trader Joe's for much more than milk and three-buck chuck. I find it amusing when a customer asks what I think of the $9 gluten-free halibut, when I could never afford to buy it myself. So, when someone asks me what I think about something I tell them I buy most of my groceries at Sav-a-lot down the street. 

Yes, there are many ignorantly happy crew members at Trader Joe's. Yet, I am not alone in my feelings. I would say at least half of the crew members I work with feel the same way I do, but they are afraid to speak up because they don't want to be targeted by management or lose out on their next raise. Some also have the delusion of getting into management, even though it is very difficult and the pay raise for becoming a "mate" is small (unless you are hired into a mate position from outside the company, then you may get the 75K they profess.)

Yet, there is a solution to this problem: Crew members unite and UNIONIZE. Kaizen!

After spending three years as a full-time employee at Trader Joe's of Amherst, NY, I can tell you this of my experience:

-- The work is generally very physically-oriented. Be prepared to participate in the unloading process of the morning truck or the night truck. Make sure your organizational skills and attention to detail are up to par, as you will help to sort through multiple pallets of various products. Be constantly aware of any temperature sensitive products as well! Good sneakers are a must-have! Always tell a manager if you are feeling sore or need to work in a less physically demanding part of the store. Generally, they will try to help to make sure you aren't taking an unnecessary physical beating. 

--- Be upfront about your intentions right away if you wish to grow with the company. Do not just tread water and treat Trader Joe's like it is any ordinary job. The salaries can be incredibly lucrative and (most of) the employees will treat you like family. The opportunities to show your stewardship of certain areas of the store will come often; seize the opportunities and grow your relationships with your fellow crew, mates and captain. 

--- Keep your MIND on the GRIND. During the open store hours, look for the many ways you can help your customers feel at home. Your attentiveness and care for your customers will serve you well, and you do not want to become a "grunt" who simply throws stuff on the shelf and coexists within the store. The grunt attitude will stand out like a sore thumb and you can expect it will affect everyone around you. 

--- Ignore the inside gossip and negativity and defuse it by maintaining a strong spirit of resilience. As with every store, there are always the employees who just love to find a problem with everything, create drama out of nothing, or simply have a terrible attitude. Don't entertain or cater to these types of problems by yourself. Just continue to focus on the many ways to stay busy and steer clear of the gossip and drama. Getting caught up in unnecessary stupidity will only hold back your growth as an employee at Trader Joe's. 

--- Make sacrifices for crew who DO have legitimate problems. Sometimes, certain employees simply have legitimate life problems that have nothing to do with the inside nonsensical drama or gossip. Or, some employees need a break from the  interactions with customers on the cash register for a short while; stay aware of  these opportunities to serve your fellow crew by trading their responsibilities for an hour or two. Maybe even pick up or trade an entire shift with them as well. You will build an unbreakable bond with someone if you show them the real care you have for them. 

All in all, Trader Joe's, as far as retail goes, certainly has some fantastic career advancement opportunities IF you want to stick with retail for your life. Trader Joe's is also good for college and high school students who are looking for that perfect first job.

My own personal feelings toward Trader Joe's did not end on the best note, as some of their managers were blatantly vindictive in some cases, and in other cases--totally spineless by catering to hyper-political correctness. My word of advice to the aforementioned managers (names will not be mentioned) is this: Do not cater to every single changing social trend, or compromise the age-old successful values of your own integrity by succumbing to favoritism for certain employees. 

I've had some of best mentors there, and feel I got above the standard training in leadership overall. However, being because there is so much trust in each store's management, the area I worked in which was growing faster than some the companies past growth & perhaps for a lack of quality people "in the pond", Trader Joe's got the best of what they could, having worked other retailers, but I did feel a strong sense of favoritism at management level in a few stores. Not all Store Managers operated this way & some were fair, or just didn't have the tools to do better. Being smart about pairing up training & coaching groups to make everyone shine is what I was taught at one point, but it seemed my supervisors missed that lesson.  Other teams (store Mates specifically) were very pitted against each other.  I felt penalized for not hanging out with my crew members after hours (even though it was frowned upon (kept hush hush), was very much so a part of how managers I countered on opposite shifts garnered a commraderie among the team.)  Sometimes I felt proud to be "held to a higher standard among my peers" because of my tenure & other managers made it feel like I couldn't succeed. I truly felt undermined & used in my last store working there. Being compared to peers who had more help or staff or stronger employees is often a rebuttal I had to make with managers who didn't take time to make that observation before chastising me. It wasn't always like that, but having had better store managers who either fairly scheduled,  or realized when it wasn't gave me the perspective it can be horribly frustrating as leader and overall pretty good for a crew member.  I do recommend as a part time job to other people.
 There are many favors being passed around with just the right ones who won't say it like it is. I didn't play the game & was equally stern with the boss's pet to the ones who worked hard all day. The recipe Trader Joe's has **WHEN IT'S EXECUTED CORRECTLY *** is work hard, play harder.  How can leaders be playful & light hearted when they are thrown under the bus by their supervisor & set up for failure by the prior shift by disarray of product, less than required tasks done?  I often felt more in the past few years, an unfair brunt of workload on my shifts making it very hard to serve/buy breakfast (a common reward that feels great to give & receive for hard work) for my team when I only had twice as much work & struggled because the team before had a pizza party for doing the bare minimum.  I would recommend for part time work absolutely, but it can be impossible when some stores have crooked managers more inclined to make buddies & think that's how you get quality work. I've learned from some of the best that identifying who is really going above & beyond is worth more than love. "Better to be respected by loved by my people" is the attitude of some of the better store managers & some of my experience.  

Trader Joe's can be a seriously fun environment with great employees and even customers (for the most part). People are genuinely happy to be there. It's very hard work physically and emotionally as you need to constantly stay busy and maintain an over the top extroverted attitude. It's different (and better) than most grocery stores because you'll alternate from working product to register every hour. If you're artistic you might be able to be on the team that draws signs. There are no paid breaks or 15's, which is hard when you're running around for 4 straight hours and can't even really take a bathroom break longer than 5 minutes due to the fast-paced nature of the store.  It is very common to get warnings for not maintaining a friendly conversational attitude with customers (ex: if you didn't ask them about their day or about a product while you ring them up). It is expected to go above and beyond with every interaction, which can get very tiring.
Full time waterfall schedules (2 close, 1 mid, 2 open) essentially make it so that you have no rest time. Days off are not guaranteed to be in a row. It's nice when you need to call out because there's so many workers someone is likely to take your shift and the store isn't too reliant on your presence. Bi-yearly raises are not guaranteed if you're not friendly enough or fast enough because you're overly friendly. I got the raise 4 times in a row but a new hire was paid more than me. My store was on a college campus and extremely accommodating with student schedules. There are opportunities for a $250 bonus each year for a few employees. 
 Most employees between stores know each other, and if a manager doesn't like you, you're basically screwed. The vibe of every store is different. Mine was uptight with managers breathing down your necks. Multiple coworkers at my store were basically handed letters of resignation when they were dealing with health issues. There are opportunities for advancement, such as becoming a section product leader but you don't get paid more. You can become an assistant manager after 2-3 years if you're one of the manager's favorites. My assistant manager only made $5 more than me hourly. There is only one person in each store on salary. 
Overall, it is a really great place to work for extroverted people wanting a fun job with awesome coworkers. My problem is when managers try so hard to pretend its not a bureaucracy when it very clearly is. The company is known for never firing but making people quit through passive mistreatment. That said, people tend to stay with the company for many years. If you don't like your store you can try to transfer to another or if you move states its very easy to keep your job. Its a great place to make friends with your coworkers. People would hang out outside of work constantly. 

Working at Trader Joe's has been a truly enriching experience for me. As an employee, I have had the opportunity to be a part of a vibrant and unique work environment that sets Trader Joe's apart from other grocery stores. Here's my review of my time at Trader Joe's:
From day one, I was impressed by the supportive and friendly atmosphere among the staff. The team members genuinely care about each other and work together cohesively, creating a positive work environment. The camaraderie among employees fosters a sense of belonging and makes coming to work a joy.
One of the standout aspects of working at Trader Joe's is the emphasis on customer service. The company's commitment to exceptional customer experiences is evident in the comprehensive training provided to employees. I received thorough product knowledge training, enabling me to confidently assist customers with their inquiries, suggest suitable alternatives, and provide recommendations. The interactions with customers are often pleasant and engaging, as many customers are loyal Trader Joe's shoppers who appreciate the unique selection and quality products.
Trader Joe's also prioritizes employee well-being. The company offers competitive pay and benefits packages, including health insurance and retirement plans. Additionally, the flexible scheduling options allowed me to strike a good work-life balance, which is invaluable.
What truly sets Trader Joe's apart is its product selection. The store is known for its innovative and diverse offerings, ranging from everyday grocery items to unique and exotic foods from around the world. As an employee, I had the opportunity to sample and explore various products, expanding my knowledge and palate. Trader Joe's commitment to quality and value is truly impressive, and it's a pleasure to be a part of a company that stands behind its products.
While working at Trader Joe's has been overwhelmingly positive, it's not without its challenges. The store can get quite busy, especially during peak hours and holidays, which requires efficient multitasking and adaptability. However, the supportive team and positive work environment help mitigate these challenges, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable work experience.
In conclusion, my time at Trader Joe's has been incredibly rewarding. The company's dedication to customer service, employee well-being, and unique product selection make it a standout place to work. The friendly atmosphere, coupled with the opportunity for personal and professional growth, make Trader Joe's a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a fulfilling job in the retail industry. I wholeheartedly recommend working at Trader Joe's to those who value teamwork, exceptional service, and a truly enjoyable work environment.

I've been with Trader Joe's for over a decade, and when I started, it was one of the best retail companies to work for. Amazing health benefits, bi-annual reviews where you could make up to a full dollar raise at each review depending on your performance, 10% 401k contribution, and some of the most amazing people you'll ever work with. One of the things that stood out about Trader Joe's was that for a retail corporation, they treated the "lowest" of employees like gold, and placed high value on the tenured staff. 

Unfortunately over the years as the company has grown, it has begun to change into what I can only describe as "your typical corporate company". COVID has only furthered these changes. While Trader Joe's claimed they lost money in the pandemic by giving their employees "thank you pay", they were actually one of the few businesses that benefitted from the pandemic, having abnormally high sales days at the beginning, and then leveling out to normal, every-day sales, even with restricted customer access. After giving us the "thank you pay" for about a year, they announced that because of the extra money we had been receiving (just front-line workers who put their lives at risk every day for the sake of the company making ANY sort of money), and how much it supposedly lost them, that we wouldn't be getting a raise in the summer review, and the usual bonuses they offer to a small handful of exceptional employees would be withheld. 

Instead, they continue to open brand new stores (a pretty penny up front), and have lost so many higher-paid tenured employees that I KNOW they're doing just fine. But then they cut our retirement contribution in half. Just overnight. Without giving us the respect of even a warning. 

Meanwhile, we just continue getting worked to the bone while still desperately trying to avoid getting sick. We continue to deal with childish, privileged customers that act so oppressed for having to wear a piece of fabric across their face for 20 minutes, or who can't get their boujee cauliflower gnocchi because *news flash* there's a massive supply and trucker shortage. But god-forbid we don't maintain that quintessential Trader Joe's happy-go-lucky attitude for our customers.

The only pros I can give this job right now would still be the staff (it really is the only thing that keeps me going day-to-day), the flexibility to take time off when needed (you get a certain percentage from each pay check put in an absence reserve account to use for your PTO), and the health insurance is still some of the best out there among just about any job - but I have a hard time believing it'll stay that way for much longer given the trajectory of the company.

It's a fine gig if you're just starting out, or if you need a filler job. And my best advice: don't ever try to become a Mate unless you love being taken advantage of.

Same old standard retail environment disguised as shiny, happy people all dressed up in Hawaiian shirts. The work itself is not easy. Crew members are expected to be able to master each section of the store, and doing so means being able to continually lift 40-60 pound boxes, one after another, as well as leaping, bending, reaching and twisting around in the backroom (which is so incredibly tiny, it might as well be an obstacle course) in order to actually obtain the materials/products needed in order to complete assigned tasks. As for the culture, favoritism runs rampant here. Get ready to be heavily micromanaged due to pervasive lack of trust from leadership - as well as other crew members - in team members ability to successfully finish tasks at their own discretion/using their own judgement. Most outwardly nitpicky and condescending crew might be chosen “section leaders” by management (important to note: without a pay raise) based almost entirely on nepotism rather than skill. The teeny tiny breakroom in the back is a breeding ground for lunch-hour gossip - beware of blatantly exclusionary remarks and behavior. Pay is great in comparison to other retail jobs of the same caliber, benefits are decent and pretty easy to obtain. But, flexible scheduling? Work/life balance? Think again. Get ready to WORK. Early morning crew comes in as early as 5 AM, late night crew leaves as late as midnight. One or the other, take your pick. 

Crew members and mates are pushed so hard physically and mentally to such a degree that burnout, crew injuries and turnover are all VERY real problems the store continues to face. Employees are essentially encouraged to wholly sacrifice their own physical/emotional well-being for the good of the “WOW customer experience”, to such a degree that crew members (and mates) are so much visibly nicer in brief interactions with passerby customers than they are daily to their own coworkers. To top it off? Customer base is entitled and aggressively inattentive. Get ready to serve the entire country of Canada every weekend and often find yourself wondering, “is this a grocery store that I’m working at, or a tourist attraction?” 

I've worked for many different companies in a number of different roles over the past 20 years, and I can say with assurance and confidence that Trader Joe's is a one of a kind place to work.  

First of all, the people are amazing to work with.  I haven't met one person that wasn't pleasant to me upon meeting me, and everyone seems to enjoy their work.  As far as retail goes, I don't think you could find a better place to be employed.  The managers (or captains, mates & merchants as we call them) are kind, patient and professional.  They give you constant feedback to help you improve and grow; they correct you when you've made a mistake in a constructive way, and are sure to give you kudos when you've done something well.  The other crew members are super helpful and great too.  Most have worked for TJ's a decent amount of time and love what they do.  

I think the reason that the crew members and I love what we do is because it doesn't get too boring or stale; we are constantly moving, and what we do changes from day to day, even hour to hour.  I've worked in retail jobs where all you do is help people bag their groceries, or only ring them up, or just stock the shelves.  At TJ's I'm doing more than one thing every shift.  I could be stocking the shelves at one moment, then checking a customer out, helping another crew member with bagging, demo-ing samples of our food, or walking around the store interacting with customers the next.  It is nice to be able to have variety throughout the day. 

Many of the mates/merchants have moved up from crew members  over the years they've worked at Trader Joe's.  There is a review process twice a year that allows you to get a raise based upon your performance.  The benefits are also quite good, with a generous contributory 401k retirement program, paid time off, health insurance, store discount, regular tastings & leadership development courses for those who wish to advance with the company and take on more responsibility.  

The pay is about average for a starting retail position at a retail grocery chain, but like I mentioned earlier, there are chances to increase your pay rate twice a year.  Also, if you desire to move up with TJ's and are willing to work hard, you can increase your pay significantly.  Money is obviously important in order to survive in today's world.  However, for me, I really think that enjoying what you do and working with genuine, kind, quality people is worth quite a bit too.

1. There are really only 3 main categories.  The head of the store, the managers, the crew.  There are more hierarchies within, but not really functionally.  Everybody does everything.  This actually is applicable, and there is no true snobbery, power plays, or separation.  The main difference is the shirt one wears and the dedication in time, which is a lot. When one goes full-time, one is expected to work above 40 hours.  When one is part-time, one can work 0-40 and that's it.    

2.  People there actually do enjoy working there.  It's a very relaxed environment in most stores.

3. Dependable company, very generous management most of the time.  Very fair.  Small business mentality.  Head office is very, very small, so it goes both ways.  Very friendly, very dependable, can be a little incompetent in business matters when it comes to connecting to things like the 401k company, disability, etc, but overall very excellent and trustworthy.

4.  My typical day was set up by a shift calendar, just like everyone's.  I wrote an order for almost the entire time I worked there, which was ten years.  Something like: One hour cash registers, one hour doing write-offs and stocking section, one hour writing order, break, one hour cash register, one hour cash register, 2 hours demo (food demonstration), one hour closing.  I'm very small and have an invisible progressive illness, so towards the end of my tenure, they allowed less taxing things like this.  In the beginning, I would have done cart collection runs, or stocking another section, or taking in the load from the truck.    

5.Loved working independently; my only review flaws were being too quiet, so I made an effort to correct that.  You have flexible managers for the most part.  

6. East Coast is different from West Coast, just a word of warning.  A lot of the crew are people who wanted to move out, just for fun.  The managers and crew from the East are people who are learning the Trader Joe's culture from the ground up.  The people on the West Coast grew up with it.  Be aware of this, and be aware that snow conditions dictate what products are available as well.  Someone might come crying to you that their sister-in-law has blah-blah product in California, but you don't have it in the store.  Well, too bad, cupcake.  The suppliers are small.  People need to get used to the fact that it's not a regular grocery retailer, and Trader Joe's offers products on a different supply chain basis.  The customer-store culture is normalising.

Shifts at the Orem Trader Joe's are typically 2pm-10pm or 6am-2pm which can make work life balance difficult, but I've been able to make it work as a student. You typically spend your days stocking the shelves and ringing people up on register. You're expected to work hard but also have fun which I love. I love pretty much every employee, including the store management team. Everyone has been very supportive of me and all my life decisions. 

The hardest part(s) of the job have come with the onset of the pandemic starting with the emotional toll of enforcing mask and social distancing policies and ending with recent company decisions regarding wages. Employees began receiving hazard pay during the pandemic which was a huge blessing, but eventually it was taken away and one of our regularly scheduled bi-annual raises was skipped the reasoning being we'd received a high increase of wages for a sustained period of time. Now, however, new hires are being paid more than veteran employees who have been with the company 4-5 years and it's actually impossible to negotiate wages and there's no transparency regarding how or why these decisions are made so there's nothing veteran crew can do about it except leave scathing reviews of the company on the internet.  As someone who has been with the company for 4 years, it's been insulting and frustrating to have to train new hires when they're making more money than you, especially at a company that has integrity as its number one value. I don't feel that upper level management is treating me they way they'd want to be treated if they were in my shoes. These actions say to me that Trader Joe's doesn't care about employee retention and they are hypocritical when it comes to living out their company values. 

I stay with the company because I love the work I do every day, I love the people I work with, I love the autonomy I have at work, I love what the company says it stands for (even if their actions don't reflect their values), there's opportunities for growth within the company, and I have hope that the company will begin treating its employees in a way that makes them feel valued soon.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Crew member 159 salaries reported	$20.13 per hour
Cashier 10 salaries reported	$19.40 per hour
Assistant manager 1 salary reported	$21.01 per hour
Assistant store manager 11 salaries reported	$26.55 per hour
Delivery driver 3 salaries reported	$30.00 per hour

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