iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
A Costco employee who posts as Joce says she started at $14 an hour in 2018, later moved into optical work, and by 2025 earned $56.85 an hour on Sundays. Those are figures reported from her personal account—not independently verified wages or a standard Costco pay rate.
What Joce says she earned
Attack of the Fanboy reported Joce’s wage progression as $14 an hour in 2018, $15 in 2019, and $37.90 in 2025. The article says the amounts came from Joce’s account and had not been independently verified. They describe one worker’s reported experience, not a guaranteed wage for Costco employees.
| Reported point in her work history | Hourly amount | What the report says |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $14.00 | Reported starting rate, attributed to Joce’s account [Attack of the Fanboy]. |
| 2019 | $15.00 | Reported rate, attributed to Joce’s account [Attack of the Fanboy]. |
| 2025 | $37.90 | Reported regular rate after moving into optical work; the article says it includes a premium above a $31.90 base rate [Attack of the Fanboy]. |
| Sundays, as reported | $56.85 | Described as time-and-a-half on the reported $37.90 rate. This is Joce’s reported Sunday amount, not independently confirmed Costco policy [Attack of the Fanboy]. |
Why her pay reportedly increased
The account connects Joce’s higher rate to a move into Costco’s optical department and becoming a licensed optician. The article says she had no prior experience or training and described learning on the job, including time to study for exams. It quotes her as saying, “it’s all on the job training and they give you time to study while working.” The quote and work-history details are relayed by the article rather than independently confirmed [Attack of the Fanboy].
Recommended Free Tools
The report says the ABO exam fee was $225 and describes the NCLE as another exam in her licensing path. Those details are part of this account; they do not establish current or universal licensing requirements or fees for every location.
#1 Best Overall
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
How to interpret the Sunday figure and total compensation
The $56.85 figure is presented as a Sunday rate, while $37.90 is the reported ordinary hourly rate. The article describes the Sunday amount as time-and-a-half applied to the latter. A Sunday premium, specialist premium, or other pay component can make a worker’s rate differ from a base wage; Joce’s account does not establish the policy applicable to every Costco role or location.
Hourly pay is not the same as annual earnings. A yearly estimate would depend on her actual hours and schedule, including how many Sundays she worked and whether premiums applied. The report also treats bonuses and benefits as separate from hourly wages, so the published rates alone do not establish her total compensation.
Rank #2
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
How this compares with broader Costco pay claims
Attack of the Fanboy also summarizes Reuters reporting, citing an internal Costco memo, as describing $20 starting pay and $30.20 top-of-scale hourly pay, with $1 increases planned in each of the next two years. That is a secondhand account of Reuters’ reporting, and the underlying memo and figures were not independently verified here. It should not be treated as a confirmed current company-wide scale or directly equated with Joce’s reported specialist rate [Attack of the Fanboy].
What a job seeker should compare
For someone evaluating a Costco job or comparing their own compensation, the useful questions are more specific than “What does Costco pay?” Ask about the position and location, the base rate, any specialist or other premiums, Sunday pay rules, scheduled hours, and which benefits or bonuses are separate from wages. Joce’s story suggests one possible path into a specialized role, but it cannot predict the rate another employee will receive.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- Double check if the URL/website is genuine before entering card details online. Do not provide any gift card details (example: claim code) to someone you do not know or trust. There are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- If you believe that your Card has been lost or stolen, notify Mastercard immediately by calling 1-833-791-7288. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Mastercard Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted, including online. Your Amazon.com Balance cannot be used to purchase Mastercard gift cards.
Rank #4
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Rank #3
- Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
- Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
- Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
- Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
- No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
