Apple retail staff make LESS THAN minimum wage???

[-BigMac-]

Hi Guys.

I always wanted to work for Apple. Love the brand, marketing, products, and I get excited talking about it all.

I checked the employment options at their stores.. wow.

Keep in mind this is Australian Dollars..
- $23 per hour for normal retail staff ($15 USD)
- $29 for specialist (assuming Apple Genius) ($19USD)

Being Apple retail staff is literally paying lower than the Australian Retail Award which sits at $26.55.

There’s something to be said about “better working conditions” than other retail stores, and “staff satisfaction” at work etc. But does happiness at work matter when you can barely afford food outside of work?

For reference - Current Apple market cap $4.03 Trillion USD 👀

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

$15 USD seems pretty fair for an entry level service job for most places in the US but why it is below Australian MW, I dont understand the why. When I look up entry service Apple jobs in Australia online, the stated wage is below what the MW req is which is weird - per google AI search, Apples agreed upon minimum wage for Australia is $29.23 per the most recent collective bargaining agreement. I'm not Australian obviously, so dont understand the finer mechanics behind that discrepancy. The only Australian Mac guy I know of (dont know him personally) who may have insight (hes a smart guy too and was part of the macyak streams if you recall those) is Bruce Branchus of Branchus Creations. I dont think he is here on MR though which is a bummer. Maybe some Australians here can chime in on how MW laws work in Australia & why the perceived wage discrepancy?

 

[Apple fanboy]

My advice to anyone thinking of working retail with Apple or otherwise is don’t. Find something better.
Maybe if it’s a side gig whilst at Uni or college sure. But otherwise I think there are much better choices.

 

[KaliYoni]

Just want to add some context as we think about the issues in this thread:

• Market capitalization is simply (total number of shares issued by a company) times (share price). As such, a company’s market capitalization changes every time there is a trade.
• Companies and entities that are privately held or have multiple classes of stock shares will not have their true worth or value reflected in their market capitalization (if it even exists).
• Market capitalization does not directly measure how much money a company has to spend, its revenues, or its profits.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

My advice to anyone thinking of working retail with Apple or otherwise is don’t. Find something better.
Maybe if it’s a side gig whilst at Uni or college sure. But otherwise I think there are much better choices.

Nothing wrong with retail. It can be hard only because people can be hard. I know many people who have grown to make 6 digit+ figures in the retail sector and who started at this exact entry level point. The failure is not realizing that the entry point is not the end point thus one has to work and grow their skillset to make it to that better wage, nicer position, better schedule etc. it’s not handed out - anywhere in the private sector.

If I was younger and entering the workforce, I would have loved to work at an Apple retail store I think as I would have been surrounded by technology that I otherwise would never lol be able to afford at the time and could learn the ins and outs of iOS/macos and work place camaraderie is always nice.

*unsolicited advice incoming*

Folks entering the workforce: don’t focus on what you think is owed to you, focus on how you can be the solution. Be the problem solver and solution for the issues others are experiencing. You will make more money, get those extra hours when you want them and get the promotions you seek that will facilitate growth at work to match growth/needs in your life.

Good luck.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Just want to add some context as we think about the issues in this thread:

• Market capitalization is simply (total number of shares issued by a company) times (share price). As such, a company’s market capitalization changes every time there is a trade.
• Companies and entities that are privately held or have multiple classes of stock shares will not have their true worth or value reflected in their market capitalization (if it even exists).
• Market capitalization does not directly measure how much money a company has to spend, its revenues, or its profits.

Apple netted 26.9% profit over the past 12 months - after all expenses, including taxes and interest, were deducted.

GM - 46.9%
OM - 32%

So Apple is currently keeping about $0.26 cents of every dollar they’ve made over the past year. Not too bad

Apples 2025 gross profit was $195.2 billion so netted 52.5 billion last year. Seems like a lot (and it is) but that is then reinvested back into the business, pay down debt, pay shareholder dividenbs etc. so of that, what part is Tim Cook’s labor budget is unknown, suffice to say they’re puting money in the bank.

 

[-BigMac-]

Apple netted 26.9% profit over the past 12 months - after all expenses, including taxes and interest, were deducted.

GM - 46.9%
OM - 32%

So Apple is currently keeping about $0.26 cents of every dollar they’ve made over the past year. Not too bad

Apples 2025 gross profit was $195.2 billion so netted 52.5 billion last year. Seems like a lot (and it is) but that is then reinvested back into the business, pay down debt, pay shareholder dividenbs etc. so of that, what part is Tim Cook’s labor budget is unknown, suffice to say they’re puting money in the bank.

Exactly right. As a company who prides themselves on customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction - they sure do minimise spending on their own don't they?

Money isn't everything - but it is when you have bills - curious they don't invest more on their own retail staff