Costco’s “$20 Minimum Rule” Is Wild for Montana Workers

At Costco, they’ve just implemented what they’re calling the “$20 minimum rule” company-wide, which is just corporate talk for: no employee here making less than $20 an hour.

Read More: Montana's Love For Costco Chicken Meets Legal Challenges

That’s not bad at all. In Montana in particular, “competitive wages” often means they will pay you in compliments (and a free fountain soda) if you don’t complain too loudly. Costco’s starting wage has been $20 per hour, but now apparently they’re considering boosting that to $21 per hour. Meaning you could conceivably be stocking pallets of giant mayo jars and still be pulling in more per hour than some occupations that actually need a degree and soul-crushing commitment.

In Montana, That’s Real Money

The truth is, Montana ain’t cheap no more.

Missoula is expensive. At its core, Bozeman is a high-end resort pretending to be a college town. Helena itself has even grown more expensive. Who saw that coming? So when you hear Costco paying $20 an hour, shortly $21, it kind of gives you pause, and you say to yourself, “I'll stack pallets and push carts for $21 bucks an hour!”

Costco Employees Might Just Be the Big Winners Here

If you’ve ever been to Costco, you already know the employees are not exactly suffering. They’ve got that calm confidence. The “I get paid enough to deal with this crap” energy. They aren’t stressed. They aren’t panicking. They’re merely scanning your cart as you casually throw in a 40-pound bag of dog food, a kayak, a five-pack of rotisserie chickens, and enough toilet paper to withstand another pandemic.

So if Costco is paying its workers better than most places, good. They deserve it. Because dealing with us? That’s hazard pay.