The report finds that Wal-Mart workers in California earn significantly less than their counterparts in large retail, with an average hourly wage of $9.70 compared to $14.01 for large retail workers. Additionally, only 23% of Wal-Mart workers are covered by employer-sponsored health insurance compared to 77% for large retail workers. The differences are even greater when compared to unionized grocery workers, with non-managerial Wal-Mart employees in the San Francisco Bay Area earning an average of $9.40 an hour compared to $15.31 for unionized grocery workers. The report suggests that these low wages may lead to increased reliance on safety net programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.
