Big Lots Overview

Industry
Retailing
Revenue
Headquarters
Employees
22,900
Founded In
Organization Type
Public
Big Lots, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a North America's closeout retailer. At January 28, 2012, the Company operated a total of 1,533 stores in two countries: the United States and Canada. The Company operates in two segments: U.S. and Canada. The merchandising categories include Consumables, Furniture, Home, Seasonal, Play n' Wear, and Hardlines & Other. The Consumables category includes the food, health and beauty, plastics, paper, chemical, and pet departments. The Furniture category includes the upholstery, mattresses, ready-to-assemble, and case goods departments. The Home category includes the domestics, stationery, and home decorative departments. The Seasonal category includes the lawn and garden, Christmas, summer, and other holiday departments. The Play n' Wear category includes the electronics, toys, jewelry, infant accessories, and apparel departments. The Hardlines & Other category includes the appliances, tools, paint, and home maintenance departments.
The staff at Big Lots come from unusually diverse demographic backgrounds. The company is 53.8% female and 37.8% ethnic minorities. The diversity in Big Lots employees extends to employee political beliefs. Its employees are politically diverse and represent a balanced blend of political orientations, with 47.7% Democrats and 52.3% Republicans. Despite their political differences, employees at Big Lots seem to be happy. The company has great employee retention with staff members usually staying for 3.1 years. The average employee at Big Lots makes $33,427 per year. In comparison, some of its highest paying competitors, like Vudu, Rite Aid, and Costco Wholesale, pay $67,887, $37,918, and $37,025, respectively.
Based in Columbus, OH, Big Lots is an industry leader with 22,900 employees and an annual revenue of $6.2B.

The Organization’s Mission

To help people live BIG and save Lots.

Perks of Working at Big Lots

Employees at Big Lots receive healthcare benefits, a 401k savings plan, company-paid life insurance, bonus programs, a competitive vacation plan, etc.

4.0/5

Employee Reviews

Based On 13 Ratings

Do you work at Big Lots?

Help us make this company more transparent

Job Openings
3,442 Positions
Average Salary
$33,427 yearly

Big Lots Reviews

Employee Reviews

4.8/5
Work At Big Lots? Share Your Experience

Employee Reviews

2.0
May 2023
Pros

Meeting people

Cons

Not nearly enough pay or hrs for what's expected of you

Benefits

Discount

3.0
Mar 2023
Pros

I like working with a good team

Cons

I had to deal with rude and mean customers

Benefits

I didn't really have a favorite perk or bebefit

5.0
Aug 2022
Pros

I really like working with my fellow team members and the early hours are perfect i feel motivated to do my best the management team is super helpful

Cons

Location the store is out growing itself which at times makes for a lot of changes but we manage

Benefits

I like the employee discount and the special discounts they offer on furniture for employees thats a big help

Work at Big Lots? Share your Experience

Overall Rating*
Salary and Benefits
Management
Work Environment
Diversity and Inclusion
Career Opportunities

The Culture At Big Lots

Information provided by the company

The Team At Big Lots

Key People

Sam Smith

Derek Panfil

Kevin Kuehl

Sol Shenk

The Inside Scoop

Big Lots Rankings

Big Lots is ranked #70 on the Best Retail Companies to Work For in America list. Zippia's Best Places to Work lists provide unbiased, data-based evaluations of companies. Rankings are based on government and proprietary data on salaries, company financial health, and employee diversity.

Read more about how we rank companies.

Big Lots Salaries

9.3
Salary Score
The national average salary for a Big Lots employee in the United States is $33,427 per year. Employees in the top 10 percent can make over $50,000 per year, while employees at the bottom 10 percent earn less than $22,000 per year.
Average Big Lots Salary
$16.07
hourly
$33,427 yearly
Updated March 16, 2023
Average Employee Earnings

Highest Paying Jobs At Big Lots

RankJob TitleAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
1Stock Unloader$42,559$20
2Store Manager$40,620$20
3Forklift Operator$38,575$19
4Warehouse Worker$37,462$18
5Assistant Manager$36,663$18
6Team Leader$35,851$17
7Truck Unloader$35,766$17
8Material Handler$35,056$17
9Sales Person$34,610$17
10Merchandiser$32,844$16
11Customer Service Representative$32,398$16
12Customer Service Specialist$32,016$15
13Crew Member$31,954$15
14Stocker$31,159$15
15Store Associate$30,492$15
16Stower$30,157$15
17Cashier$30,062$14
18Sales Associate$30,053$14
19Stock Clerk$28,609$14

Big Lots Diversity

9.8
Diversity Score
We calculated the diversity score of companies by measuring multiple factors, including the ethnic background, gender identity, and language skills of their workforce.

Big Lots Gender Distribution

Male
Male
46%
Female
Female
54%

Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for Big Lots. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Big Lots has 22,900 employees.

  • 54% of Big Lots employees are women, while 46% are men.

  • The most common ethnicity at Big Lots is White (62%).

  • 17% of Big Lots employees are Hispanic or Latino.

  • 12% of Big Lots employees are Black or African American.

  • The average employee at Big Lots makes $33,427 per year.

  • Big Lots employees are most likely to be members of the republican party.

  • On average, employees at Big Lots stay with the company for 3.1 years.

Biggest Big Lots Locations

RankCityJob CountAvg. Salary
1Columbus, OH61$32,108
2Houston, TX10$30,196
3Phoenix, AZ10$32,994
4Austin, TX9$30,389
5San Antonio, TX8$30,582
6San Diego, CA6$38,324
7Los Angeles, CA4$38,640
8Philadelphia, PA4$33,276
9Dallas, TX4$30,367
10Jacksonville, FL4$29,376

Jobs from companies you might like

Do you Work At Big Lots?

Help us make this company more transparent.

Big Lots Employee Political Affiliation

Big Lots employees are most likely to be members of the Republican Party. The largest donation made to a political party by a Big Lots employee was by Steven Fishman. Steven Fishman donated $13,700 to the Republican Party.

Big Lots

Parties

Republican Party

52.3 %
-

Democratic Party

47.7 %
-
Employee Political Donations
NameJob TitlePartyDonation
Steven FishmanPresident/Chief Executive OfficerRepublican Party$13,700
David CampisiChief Executive OfficerRepublican Party$3,335
Annette PocchiDistrict ManagerRepublican Party$2,137
Richard RandallDistrict ManagerRepublican Party$1,500
Rebecca SlaymanAccountantRepublican Party$1,200
Elaine CampoRequirements ManagerDemocratic Party$1,045
Marilyn MichaelSales/MarketingRepublican Party$1,000
Rick ROYDTSDemocratic Party$989
Robin GrantCorporate CounselDemocratic Party$782
Roderick BookerSenior Applications AnalystDemocratic Party$625
Show More

Big Lots Employment Videos

Big Lots Financial Performance

9.6
Performance Score
We calculated the performance score of companies by measuring multiple factors, including revenue, longevity, and stock market performance.

Big Lots Annual Revenue

$6B
$5B
$4B
$2B
$1B
$0
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

How Would You Rate The Company Culture Of Big Lots?

Have you worked at Big Lots? Help other job seekers by rating Big Lots.

Highest Paying Big Lots Competitors

Based on our research, similar companies to Big Lots are Vudu, Rite Aid, and Costco Wholesale. Employees at Vudu earn more than most of the competition, with an average yearly salary of $67,887. Employees at Rite Aid earn an average of $37,918 per year, and the employees at Costco Wholesale earn an average salary of $37,025 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions about Big Lots

When was Big Lots founded?

Big Lots was founded in 1967.

How many Employees does Big Lots have?

Big Lots has 22,900 employees.

How much money does Big Lots make?

Big Lots generates $6.2B in revenue.

What industry is Big Lots in?

Big Lots is in the retailing industry.

What is Big Lots's mission?

Big Lots's mission statement is "To help people live BIG and save Lots."

What type of company is Big Lots?

Big Lots is a public company.

Who are Big Lots's competitors?

Big Lots competitors include Kroger, The Home Depot, Kohl's, BJ's Wholesale Club, Rite Aid, Vudu, Dillard's, Walmart, Dollar General, Target, Kmart, Cost Plus World Market, Toys"R"Us, Dollar Tree, Ross Stores, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Burlington, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco Wholesale, Sears Holdings.

Who works at Big Lots?

Sam Smith (Chief Executive Officer)

Derek Panfil (Co-Chief Merchandising Officer)

Kevin Kuehl (Co-Chief Merchandising Officer)

Show More

Are You An Executive, HR Leader, Or Brand Manager At Big Lots?

Claiming and updating your company profile on Zippia is free and easy.

Big Lots FAQs

Does Big Lots Drug Test?

No, Big Lots does not routinely drug test. There is no drug test requirement in its hiring process.

The company does have a drug-free workplace policy. Employees may be asked to complete a drug test if there is reasonable suspicion based on physical and behavioral signs to suggest that they are intoxicated, or if they have an accident at work. If a drug test is required for these reasons, it is usually a standard urine test.

Does Big Lots Hire Felons?

Yes, Big Lots does hire felons. For the most part, Big Lots does appear to hire felons if they are the best candidates for the job and their convictions do not conflict with the job under consideration.

How Do You Answer, "Why Are You Interested In Working For Big Lots"?

You answer the question, "Why are you interested in working for Big Lots?" by talking about your interest in retail and customer service, and your relevant work experience. Big Lots is a retail organization, with a specific focus on delivering exceptional value for its customers, so any answers about delivering excellent customer service are appropriate.

How Do You Write A Cover Letter For Big Lots?

To write a cover letter for Big Lots, you only need a couple of paragraphs at most for an entry-level job. The Big Lots hiring is done through an online application that may offer you to upload or cut and paste a cover letter.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Big Lots?

You have to be 18 years old in order to work at Big Lots. This requirement is across the board for all positions at Big Lots, whether full or part-time.

Big Lots requires that a person is at minimum 18 years old to be hired. Additionally, they also prefer that you have a high school diploma or GED.

What Benefits Does Big Lots Offer?

Big Lots offers a full range of benefits, though some are subject to eligibility requirements and part-time or full-time status. A general overview of its benefits includes:

  • Medical

  • Prescriptions

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Company-paid life insurance

  • Supplemental life insurance

  • Investment opportunities

  • 401(k) savings plan with company match

  • Disability income protection

  • Short and long-term disability

  • Paid sick days

  • Bonus programs

  • Competitive vacation plan

  • Company-paid holidays and floating holidays

  • Educational assistance

  • Associate merchandise discount

  • Flexible spending accounts

  • Employee assistance program

  • Relocation assistance

  • Discounts on mobile service and products

What Is The Dress Code At Big Lots?

The dress code at Big Lots is business casual. Generally, Big Lots requires an outfit consisting of jeans or dress shorts with a Big Lots shirt for men, and jeans or dress pants and a Big Lots shirt for women. They also require employees to wear flat, closed-toe shoes.

What's The Hiring Process At Big Lots?

The hiring process at Big Lots consists of a series of steps that include an online application and interview process. The entire hiring process can take between one week to one month, depending on the job that you're applying for.

Search For Jobs

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Big Lots, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Big Lots. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Big Lots. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Big Lots. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Big Lots and its employees or that of Zippia.

Big Lots may also be known as or be related to Big Lots, Inc., Big Lots, Big Lots Stores, Inc., Big Lots Inc and Big Lots Stores.