The Staggering Amount Of Walking Done By The Average Costco Employee
If you are like us, then a visit to Costco is a special trip to make in your day. Shopping at Costco can be an exciting experience shared by over 116 million cardholding members around the world, all taking advantage of its bulk discounted items and ever-popular grocery finds (via Costco's investor website). With its warehouse-style layout, there is a lot of area to cover within the store -– both for employees and customers. The average Costco warehouse is 146,000 square feet, and if you have ever been in one of the wholesale retailer's locations, then you know every nook and cranny is occupied by products (via Investopedia).
With over 4,000 different products offered, employees are walking back and forth all day, ensuring the shelves stay stocked and ready for customers. While working at a store of this nature can have its ups and downs, one benefit is certain: Employees are able to get their exercise in while on the clock. Walking as a regular activity can help reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression (via Mayo Clinic).
Have you ever wondered what the average Costco worker walks within a day?
Employees average 10,000 steps a day
If you are looking to hit your goal of 10,000 steps a day while earning some money doing it, then consider applying for a job at Costco. In 2018, a Costco employee in Colorado told Mental Floss, "I walk about 5 to 8 miles a day on average, and that's all within the confines of the store ... It's a lot of hard work."
Employees have even taken to Reddit to compare their walking totals, with one noting a co-worker who once wore a pedometer to track their mileage during a shift. "A few weeks ago, one of the guys wore a Fitbit, and we worked the exact same shift — both on carts for 8 hours on a Saturday. His totals were ~17.5 miles, 33,000 steps, and something like 2300 calories burned." Another previous Costco employee added, "When I was night merch, I would average about 8 [miles] every day. My record was 10 miles in one shift."
According to Mayo Clinic, the average American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, which roughly equates to between 1½ and 2 miles. With all the benefits of walking for the human body, working at Costco is full of bonus health advantages for its staff. Not only do the employees get a full workout and toning of the legs, but they come home with a paycheck, partly for doing so.