Kroger Employee Salaries 2026: Average Pay & Compensation
Kroger employee salaries are estimated at $85,054 average pay in 2025-2026, with $76,549 median pay and $127,581 average total compensation. Compare Kroger employee salaries by role, level, bonus, equity, benefits, and Cincinnati, OH location context before evaluating an offer.
Average Salary
$85,054
$7,088/mo
Total Compensation
$127,581
base + bonus + equity
Employees
430K
large company
Rating
3.5
★★★★☆
Direct answer
Kroger employee salaries 2025-2026: average pay and compensation
The average salary for Kroger employees is estimated at $85,054 in 2025-2026, with median pay of $76,549 and average total compensation of $127,581 when bonus, equity, and incentive pay are included. Entry-level roles start around $51,032, senior roles average $136,086, and the highest listed role benchmark is E-commerce Manager at $81,000.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026. Source basis: employee-reported compensation, public filings where applicable, and BLS wage baselines; this is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed offer or internal HR pay band.
Search intent match
Kroger average employee salary, compensation and role pay
These are the four compensation questions people usually compare before applying to Kroger: average employee salary, average compensation per employee, salary by role, and salary range by level.
| Search question | 2026 answer | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Kroger average employee salary 2026 | $85,054 average base salary | Compare against the Retail peer average of $73,556. |
| Kroger average compensation per employee | $127,581 average total compensation | Separate base salary from bonus and equity before comparing offers. |
| Kroger employee salaries by role | E-commerce Manager: $81,000 | Distribution Manager: $77,000 | Category Manager: $75,000 | Use role-specific benchmarks instead of negotiating from the company average alone. |
| Kroger salary range 2025-2026 | $51,032 to $136,086 across listed entry-to-senior levels | Adjust for level, team, location, bonus cycle, and Cincinnati, OH cost context. |
Company-specific pay benchmark
Kroger Employee Salaries by Role: 2025-2026 Snapshot
Kroger employee salaries average $85,054 base pay and $127,581 average total compensation in this 2025-2026 benchmark. Within Retail, that puts Kroger above the peer salary average of $73,556 by +16%. Use this snapshot to compare base salary, bonus potential, senior-level upside, and role-specific pay before accepting or negotiating an offer.
Vs. Retail peers
+16%
peer avg $73,556
Total comp position
+30%
peer avg $98,211
Role pay spread
$21,000
Marketing Coordinator to E-commerce Manager
Senior premium
+167%
senior vs entry-level salary
| Negotiation area | Kroger benchmark | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $85,054 average, $76,549 median | Compare the offer against the Retail peer average and your exact role level. |
| Bonus target | 14% target, about $11,908 on average salary | Ask whether the target is guaranteed, discretionary, prorated, or tied to company performance. |
| Equity or incentives | 33% of estimated total comp is above base salary | Check vesting schedule, refresh grants, strike price or RSU value, and liquidity timing. |
| Location economics | Cincinnati, OH headquarters, $7,088 monthly average pay | Adjust for state taxes, local taxes, rent, commute cost, hybrid policy, and relocation support. |
Kroger Salary by Level
Salary progression from entry-level to director positions at Kroger.
Entry-level employees at Kroger earn around $51,032, while directors can earn $210,933 or more.
Kroger Average Pay by Role
| Role | Base Salary | Est. Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Manager | $81,000 | $92,340 |
| Distribution Manager | $77,000 | $87,780 |
| Category Manager | $75,000 | $85,500 |
| Loss Prevention Manager | $61,000 | $69,540 |
| Marketing Coordinator | $60,000 | $68,400 |
Total compensation estimates include base salary and an average 14% bonus. Stock options/equity are offered but vary significantly by role and level.
Kroger Benefits & Perks
Kroger Salary Calculator
Select a role and experience level to estimate your salary at Kroger.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Salary at Kroger
$79,000
$6,583/month · $37.98/hr
Est. total comp with 14% bonus: $90,060
About Kroger
Based in Cincinnati, OH, Kroger is a prominent retail company with over 430K employees. The company offers competitive salaries, strong benefits, and career growth opportunities across multiple disciplines.
Headquarters
Cincinnati, OH
Founded
1883
Industry
Retail
Company Size
large
Employees
430,000
Median Salary
$76,549
Hourly Rate
$40.89/hr
Monthly Pay
$7,088
Kroger Employee Ratings
3.5
★★★★☆
Overall Rating
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Methodology & Sources for Kroger Salary Data
How we estimate Kroger compensation data: Our salary figures combine self-reported employee compensation data (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Comparably, Blind), SEC filings for public companies (DEF 14A proxy statements include executive compensation), and BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for industry baselines. We weight recent data points (last 2 years) higher to reflect current market conditions.
- Base salary distribution aggregated from employee-reported data points. Kroger (founded 1883, 430K employees, headquartered in Cincinnati, OH) is in the Retail sector.
- Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, and where applicable, equity or other long-term incentives. At Kroger, bonuses vary by role, level, location, performance cycle, and business division.
- Level mapping normalizes role names across companies (Entry/Junior/Mid/Senior/Lead/Principal/Director) for cross-company comparison.
- Cost-of-living adjustment uses BLS regional CPI-U data when comparing Kroger's Cincinnati, OH salaries to other markets.
- Industry benchmarking compares Kroger compensation to BLS national averages for Retail sector occupations.
Authoritative compensation data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national salary baselines for Retail
- SEC EDGAR — Company Filings — public company executive compensation in DEF 14A proxies
- BLS Industries at a Glance — Retail — sector employment, wages, productivity
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level wage data by industry
- DOL Wage and Hour Division — federal wage compliance and minimum wage
Disclaimer: Kroger compensation data is aggregated from multiple sources and reflects general patterns, not guaranteed offers. Actual salaries vary based on level, location, negotiation, performance, and equity vesting. For personalized career advice, consult HR professionals or executive coaches. For job offers, always negotiate based on multiple data points and your unique value.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Salary data last updated May 19, 2026 · Page reviewed May 26, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest annual release
Kroger Salary FAQ
What is the average salary at Kroger in 2026?
The average salary at Kroger is $85,054 per year in 2026. Entry-level positions start around $51,032, while senior professionals earn up to $136,086. Total compensation including bonuses and equity averages $127,581.
What benefits does Kroger offer?
Kroger offers a comprehensive benefits package including Health/dental/vision, Parental leave 12 weeks, Parental leave 16 weeks, and 3 more benefits. The company also offers stock options or equity compensation. The average bonus is approximately 14% of base salary.
What are the highest paying roles at Kroger?
The highest paying roles at Kroger include E-commerce Manager ($81,000), Distribution Manager ($77,000), Category Manager ($75,000). Executive-level positions can earn up to $221,140 or more annually.
How does Kroger compare to other Retail companies?
Kroger has a 3.5/5.0 employee rating and $85,054 average salary. Compared to peers like Walmart and The Home Depot, it offers above-average compensation in the Retail sector.
Is Kroger a good company to work for?
Kroger has a 3.5/5.0 overall rating and 3.5/5.0 work-life balance score. Employees give the company above-average ratings. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH and was founded in 1883, employing 430K people worldwide.
What is the total compensation at Kroger?
Total compensation at Kroger averages $127,581 per year, which includes base salary ($85,054), bonuses (approximately 14% of base), and equity or long-term incentive grants. Senior and executive roles can see significantly higher total compensation packages.
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