How Long are Shifts at Walmart in 2024? Breaking Down Positions, Hours and More - 33rd Square (2024)

If you‘re considering working at Walmart, one of the first questions you probably have is “how long are the shifts?”

At Walmart, shift lengths can vary anywhere from 4 hours to 12 hours depending on whether you‘re part-time or full-time, your specific job position, department needs, and even store location.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about Walmart shift lengths in 2024, including:

• Average shift lengths for part-time and full-time workers
• Shift times for different positions and departments
• Lunch break information
• Shift swapping and availability policies
• Pay rates and overtime eligibility
• And much more to help you know what to expect!

By the end of this guide, you‘ll have a complete overview of the hour and shift length realities working at Walmart so you can decide if the schedules work for your lifestyle. Let‘s dive in!

How Long Are Shifts for Full-Time Walmart Employees?

For full-time hourly employees at Walmart working 35-40 hours per week, the average shift length is typically around 9 hours. This includes an hour-long unpaid lunch break, so the actual working time ends up being around 8 hours per shift.

The most common full-time Walmart schedule looks like this:

• 5 work days per week
• 8 hour work shifts each day
• 1 hour lunch break each day
• Equals 40 working hours per week

So a typical 9 hour shift would be 8am-5pm with an hour lunch from 12pm-1pm. Some full-timers work slightly longer 10 hour shifts with two 30 minute breaks to still reach 40 hours.

Here‘s a comparison of common full-time schedules at Walmart:

As you can see, the 9 hour shift schedule ends up being the most popular for full-time to consistently get 40 hours each week.

Now let‘s compare part-time shifts.

How Long Are Shifts for Part-Time Walmart Employees?

Part-time employees at Walmart typically work anywhere from 4-32 hours per week depending on availability. To accommodate school and other schedules, shifts for part-timers can vary greatly.

Here are some of the most common part-time shift lengths at Walmart:

• 4 hour shifts
• 5 hour shifts
• 6 hour shifts
• 8 hour shifts

Part-time workers may be scheduled for 1-5 shifts per week based on their availability. For example, a college student may request only 3 days a week while a retired part-timer may want 5 days.

To give you an idea, here is an example part-time schedule with shift lengths:

As you can see, part-time shifts typically vary more day-to-day. During busy periods like holidays, part-timers may work extra hours or additional shifts based on store needs.

The flexibility makes Walmart a great option if you want to supplement your income while maintaining a work-life balance.

Next let‘s look at how positions impact shift length.

How Do Positions Affect Shift Length at Walmart?

Beyond just part-time and full-time status, your specific job at Walmart will also impact your shift length and schedule.

Here are some examples of average shift lengths for different Walmart positions:

Cashiers

• Full-time: Typically scheduled for 9 hour shifts (8 working hours)
• Part-time: Shifts range from 4-8 hours based on availability

Stockers

• Full-time: Often have 10-12 hour shifts to accommodate truck unloading
• Part-time: Typically scheduled for 6-10 hour shifts

Department Associates

• Full-Time: Average around 9 hour shifts like cashiers
• Part-Time: Range from 4-8 hours depending on department

Overnight Stockers

• Full-time: Expect 10-12 hour overnight shifts
• Part-time: Commonly work 8 hour overnight stocking shifts

Pickup Associates

• Full-time: Average 8 hour shifts are common
• Part-time: Many have 5-6 hour shifts for flexibility

So positions like stockers, overnight associates, pickup tend to work slightly longer shifts, while cashiers and sales floor associates stick to more average shift lengths regardless of status.

Next let‘s go over the lunch and break policy at Walmart.

Lunch Breaks and Rest Periods at Walmart

Walmart provides lunch and rest breaks for associates working over a certain number of hours:

• For 6+ hour shifts, one 60 minute unpaid lunch break is required by policy. This is unpaid time.
• For 8+ hours shifts, associates also receive two 15 minute paid rest breaks scheduled by management.

So for a full-time 9 hour shift, that entails:

• 8 working hours
• 1 unpaid 60 minute lunch
• Two 15 minute paid rest breaks

Part-timers working under 6 hours may not qualify for an unpaid lunch break depending on state law. All associates receive a paid 15 minute break for every 4 hours worked.

Breaks provide a chance to recharge during the workday. Make sure to follow guidance on break timing and duration at your store.

Okay, next let‘s look at shift start and end times.

What Are Common Shift Start and End Times at Walmart?

In addition to shift length, Walmart associates have start and end times that vary depending on department needs.

Here are some of the most common shift times seen at Walmart stores:

Early Morning Shifts

• 5am – 2pm
• 6am – 3pm
• 7am – 4pm

Early shifts often include stockers, order pickers, management, and associates helping prep the store pre-opening.

Daytime/Afternoon Shifts

• 8am – 5pm
• 9am – 6pm
• 10am – 7pm
• 11am – 8pm

These mid-morning to evening shifts accommodate cashiers, sales floor, fitting room, customer service, and positions needed most during peak store hours.

Late Evening Shifts

• 2pm – 11pm
• 3pm – 12am
• 4pm – 1am

Later evening shifts like these help provide coverage for closing hours while ensuring overnight crews are prepared. Great for those who prefer working later.

Overnight Shifts

• 8pm – 7am
• 10pm – 9am
• 11pm – 10am

Perfect for night owl associates! Overnight shifts stock, organize, and clean the store to prepare for the next business day.

So as you can see, Walmart uses all hours of the day to keep stores staffed based on customer traffic patterns. Next I‘ll discuss shift flexibility.

How Flexible Are Shifts at Walmart?

The great news is Walmart offers lots of flexibility and options for associates when it comes to scheduling shifts:

• Shift swapping – Easily cover a shift by swapping with another associate on the scheduling app
• Shift pickup – Grab open extra shifts anytime for more hours
• Availability – Block out unavailable shift times based on your schedule
• Time off requests – Request days off for appointments, events, etc
• Shift adjustments – Ask managers to adjust start/end times when needed
• Cross-training – Get trained in multiple departments for more shift options

So you have lots of freedom to set your availability, adjust hours as needed, and pick up more shifts when you want extra income. The tools make shift flexibility a breeze.

Does Walmart Offer Shift Differentials or Overtime?

Walmart provides shift differential and overtime pay in select circ*mstances:

• Overnights: Additional $1/hr for overnight 10pm-7am shifts at many stores
• Evenings: Some locations add $0.50-$1/hr for closing shifts
• Weekends: Many stores offer an extra $1/hr on Saturdays and Sundays
• Overtime: Time and a half pay for any hours over 40 per week

Make sure to ask about premium shift pay at your specific store location during orientation. Overtime eligibility depends on state laws.

And for anyone in management roles, here‘s what to expect:

What Hours Do Walmart Management Work?

For salaried management roles like department managers, shift hours are more flexible based on store needs:

• Department managers often work 45-50 hours per week depending on department
• Availability for early mornings, late nights, weekends is crucial
• Hours fluctuate weekly but average 9-12 hour shifts is common
• Holidays like Black Friday may entail 15+ hour event days as needed by store

So management roles tend to have longer shifts and less consistency week-to-week. Availability for mornings and weekends is key.

Next let‘s go over weekends.

Do You Have to Work Weekends at Walmart?

Because weekends tend to be the busiest shopping times, most Walmart locations do prefer weekend availability from associates. However, you can specify weekends as unavailable when setting your hours.

Some associates enjoy getting weekends for the extra $1/hr pay differential. But limited weekend availability may mean fewer total hours scheduled.

If weekends are truly unavailable for you due to family, school, or other commitments, discuss your needs with management to find the best scheduling options. Having some weekend shifts helps increase the likelihood of getting hired if possible.

Conclusion: What to Expect with Walmart Shift Lengths

As you can see, shift lengths at Walmart vary from 4 hours for part-timers up to 12 hours for some full-time positions like stocking.

The typical full-time schedule is an 8-9 hour shift, 5 days per week. Part-timers can work anywhere from 4-32 hours depending on availability.

Hourly pay, overtime eligibility, lunch break requirements, and shift differentials depend on your role, department, and store policies.

While weekend availability helps, Walmart does offer flexibility to request days off when needed. The key is communicating your needs upfront.

Hopefully this deep dive into Walmart shift lengths, schedules, flexibility, and more gives you the details you need to decide if the hours will work with your lifestyle!

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