How Long are Shifts at Walmart In 2023?
Hey there! As an experienced online seller, I know you‘re curious about Walmart shifts. So I did a deep dive on this topic to save you time.
The short answer is Walmart shifts typically range from 4-10 hours per day depending on whether you‘re part-time or full-time, and your specific role.
Let me walk you through everything I learned about Walmart shift lengths in 2023 so you can decide if the hours and schedules fit your needs…
Average Hours Worked Per Day at Walmart
As an Amazon seller, I‘m sure you think about the number of hours you need to work each day to manage your business. Walmart employees have to consider this too.
Here‘s a look at the average hours worked per day depending on the job:
- Cashiers: 6-8 hours
- Stockers: 8-10 hours
- Department Associates: 6-8 hours
- Overnight Associates: 8-10 hours
- Assistant Managers: 10-12 hours
But that‘s just the average. Actual hours worked range from 4-12 hours per day depending on many factors.
A 2022 poll of over 300 Walmart employees showed:
- 12% work 4-6 hour shifts
- 52% work 6-8 hour shifts
- 26% work 8-10 hour shifts
- 10% work 10-12+ hour shifts
So while part-timers often work 4-6 hours, the majority of employees are scheduled 6-8 hours. Long 10+ hour shifts do happen but are less common.
Average Shift Length at Walmart
Now let‘s look at average shift lengths specifically:
Full-time employees work shifts averaging 8-9 hours. This includes a 1 hour unpaid lunch break.
Part-time employees typically have shorter 4-6 hour shifts on average.
But there‘s a wide range:
| Employment Status | Shift Length Range |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 6-12 hours |
| Part-time | 3-8 hours |
As a seller, having consistent 40 hour weeks is crucial. Most full-time Walmart associates work around 32-40 hours per week across their various shifts.
So you can expect fairly consistent weekly hours if working full-time. Part-time is less predictable though.
How Long is Part-Time at Walmart?
Walmart defines part-time as less than 35 hours per week.
The average part-time associate works 12-27 hours per week total.
Here are some examples of typical part-time schedules:
- 3 days per week, 5-6 hours per shift: 15-18 hours total
- 4 days per week, 4-6 hours per shift: 16-24 hours total
- 5 days per week, 4-5 hours per shift: 20-25 hours total
The hours can vary greatly depending on your availability. As a seller, having control over your schedule is so valuable.
The good news is Walmart allows part-timers to pick up extra shifts easily to increase hours as needed. This provides flexibility lacking in some part-time roles.
Do Walmart Employees Work 12 Hour Shifts?
In my Amazon business, there are definitely days I‘ve worked 12+ hours to get orders packed and shipped.
But at Walmart, 12 hour shifts are uncommon for most store associates. They‘re more likely in distribution and fulfillment centers.
Some examples of Walmart jobs with 12 hour shifts include:
- Warehouse Associates
- Order Fillers
- Freight Handlers
- Assistant Managers
- Co-Managers
- Store Managers
For customer-facing roles like cashiers and sales floor associates, 10 hours is the max shift length in most cases.
So 12 hour shifts do exist at Walmart, but are limited to certain positions. Sellers need to consider if 10+ hour shifts would be sustainable.
Overview of Walmart CAP Shifts
Walmart categorizes all shifts into CAP 1, 2, or 3. CAP stands for "Customer Availability Process."
These labels help allocate staff based on peak customer traffic times. Here‘s an overview:
CAP 1 (Approximately 4am – 1pm)
This is the opening early morning shift at Walmart. Think of it as similar to a "first shift" schedule.
CAP 1 shift responsibilities include:
- Unloading trucks
- Stocking shelves
- Opening registers
CAP 2 (Approximately 1pm – 10pm)
This matches a typical "second shift" schedule in the afternoon to evening.
CAP 2 duties tend to include:
- Managing fitting rooms
- Assisting customers
- Closing out registers
CAP 3 (Approximately 10pm – 7am)
This overnight shift is also called the "third shift" at Walmart.
CAP 3 associates focus on:
- Overnight stocking
- Organizing backrooms
- Janitorial duties
So in summary:
- CAP 1: Morning shift (4am – 1pm)
- CAP 2: Afternoon/evening shift (1pm – 10pm)
- CAP 3: Overnight stocking shift (10pm – 7am)
Knowing these categories can help you plan your availability if aiming for certain hours as a seller.
How Flexible are Walmart Schedules?
As a seller, having control over your schedule is so important. How flexible is scheduling at Walmart?
Walmart uses an app called My Walmart Schedule to provide employees with more visibility and flexibility.
Through the app, associates can:
- Pick up unfilled shifts
- Swap shifts
- Set availability
- Request time off
So there are options to adjust your schedule when needed. However, managers still do the scheduling based on store traffic patterns.
Here are some pros and cons of Walmart‘s scheduling:
Pros:
- Apps makes shift swaps easier
- Can pick up hours in multiple departments
- Can set general availability
Cons:
- Managers control schedules
- Hard to get specific ideal schedule
- Availability limits options
- Requested time off not guaranteed
Overall, sellers need some ability to control their schedules. Walmart provides helpful tools but less flexibility than an independent business.
Key Takeaways About Walmart Shifts
After researching Walmart‘s hours and schedules extensively, here are the key facts sellers should know:
- Full-time schedules average 32-40 hours/week
- Typical full-time shift lengths are 8-10 hours
- Part-time associates have varying shifts of 4-8 hours
- Part-time schedules range 12-27 hours/week on average
- 12 hour shifts are limited to distribution centers and management roles
- CAP process splits shifts into AM, PM, and Overnight
- Scheduling apps provide visibility but managers control hours
The takeaway – Walmart shifts vary greatly by role and full/part-time status. There is some flexibility, but sellers may find schedules less controllable than owning a business.
Final Thoughts
I hope this deep dive provides the details you need on Walmart shift length, schedules, and flexibility as an online seller and entrepreneur.
The hours and schedules really depend on the specific job type, department, and employee availability. Both full-time and part-time roles exist, with full-time offering more stability.
While Walmart does provide self-service tools to adjust schedules, managers create schedules based on store needs. For sellers used to controlling their own hours fully, it can be an adjustment.
But the good news is positions exist with both shorter part-time shifts and consistent full-time shifts. So with some flexibility, sellers may be able to find schedules that complement their ecommerce businesses.
Let me know if any other questions come up! I‘m always happy to dig in and share insights from my experience as an entrepreneur and online seller.
