How Much Is Holiday Pay at Walmart? Let’s Break Down the Paycheck and Policies

Hello everyone, I am your dedicated “Holiday Little Assistant.” Recently, a friend asked me about “how much is holiday pay at Walmart.” Now I will summarize the relevant details, hoping to help all of you who want to know.

So, you’re probably wondering how much Walmart pays when you’re working on a holiday. The answer isn’t super straightforward, but I’ll break it down step by step. First off, it really depends on what kind of holiday we’re talking about, whether you’re full-time or part-time, and which state you’re in. Walmart has a pretty specific set of rules for holiday pay, and they’ve changed things up in the last couple of years. For a lot of folks, the simple answer is that Walmart doesn’t automatically give everybody time and a half for working on a holiday like some other companies do. Instead, they’ve shifted to a flat extra pay for most holidays. For example, for holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, or the Fourth of July, you might get your regular hourly wage plus an extra dollar per hour. Yep, you read that right—just a buck extra on top of your normal rate. So if you make $15 an hour, you’d be looking at $16 an hour for those days. That’s not too shabby, but it’s definitely not double time or anything fancy.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting: For Thanksgiving and Christmas, Walmart tends to throw more money at you. Historically, they paid time and a half for working on Thanksgiving, and in many cases that still holds true. So if you’re scheduled on Thanksgiving, you could be earning $22.50 an hour if your base pay is $15. For Christmas, it’s similar but can vary. But keep in mind, these holidays often have limited hours—stores might close early or open late, so fewer associates are working. And don’t forget about Black Friday! That’s a big day for Walmart, and they usually pay time and a half for that, too. So if you can snag a shift on those high-demand days, your paycheck will thank you.

But wait, there’s more to holiday pay than just the extra cash for working. Walmart also has “holiday pay” for full-time associates who aren’t working that day. That’s a benefit where you get paid for the holiday even if you have the day off. To qualify, you typically need to be a full-time hourly associate with at least 90 days of service, and you have to be on the clock the day before and after the holiday (unless you’re on approved time off). How much do you get? It’s usually based on your average daily hours—so if you average 8 hours a day, you’d get 8 hours of pay at your regular rate. Part-time associates usually don’t get that perk, but they do get the extra pay if they work on the holiday. So it’s a mixed bag, really.

Questions related to how much holiday pay is at Walmart

Let’s dive into some common questions folks have, just to clear things up.

Question 1: Does Walmart pay time and a half for all holidays in 2025?
Not exactly. As of 2025, Walmart’s policy is to pay time and a half only for a select few holidays—mostly Thanksgiving and Black Friday, and sometimes Christmas Day. For most other major holidays, you’ll just get the extra dollar an hour. It’s always best to check with your store manager because policies can differ a bit by region or store type. But generally, don’t expect double time for Presidents’ Day or Memorial Day.

Question 2: If I’m part-time at Walmart, do I still get holiday pay when I’m not working?
Nope, that’s usually a full-time benefit. If you’re part-time and you have the day off, you won’t get paid for that holiday. But if you work, you’ll get the extra pay (like the $1/hour or time and a half for Thanksgiving). So if you want that holiday cash, it’s better to volunteer for a shift.

Question 3: How do I calculate my holiday pay for a day I’m working?
It’s simple. Let’s say you make $15 an hour and you work a holiday that pays $1 extra—you’ll make $16 for every hour you’re on the clock. For a time-and-a-half holiday like Thanksgiving, you’d make $22.50 an hour. Multiply that by your hours, and that’s your gross pay for that day. Just remember, taxes and deductions still come out, so your take-home will be less.

Public Holiday Calendar.com Thank you for reading, I hope this article helps you fully understand how much holiday pay at Walmart is. If you have more questions, like about specific holidays or your store’s policy, please contact us and we’ll help you figure it out.