Dollar General vs Dollar Tree: Comparing Jobs and Pay

Last Updated: April 12, 2026

Dollar General vs Dollar Tree: Comparing Jobs and Pay
Quick Answer: Dollar General offers higher starting wages ($9–$13/hr vs $9–$12/hr) with a structured career advancement program, while Dollar Tree emphasizes promoting from within and operates more total locations (19,000+ including Family Dollar vs 16,000+). Both require age 18+, conduct background checks, and offer health benefits with employee discounts for full-time employees.

Dollar General vs Dollar Tree – Side-by-Side Comparison

This table breaks down the key differences between Dollar General and Dollar Tree as job providers:

FactorDollar GeneralDollar Tree
Starting Pay$9–$13/hour$9–$12/hour
Minimum Age18 years old18 years old
Application MethodOnline at careers.dollargeneral.comOnline at dollartree.com/careers
US Locations19,000+ (including pOpshelf)16,000+ (includes Family Dollar)
Drug TestNo, for most positionsNo, for most positions
Background CheckYesYes
BenefitsHealth/dental/vision (FT), 401k, employee discount, career advancement programHealth insurance (FT), 401k, employee discount, promotes from within
Career GrowthKey holder, shift lead, assistant manager, store managerAssistant manager, store manager, district manager

Dollar General – Overview

Dollar General operates over 19,000 locations across the United States (including its pOpshelf banner), making it one of the most accessible employers for entry-level retail positions. The company actively hires store associates, cashiers, and stock associates at age 18+, with starting wages of $9–$13 per hour depending on location and role. Applications are submitted online through careers.dollargeneral.com, with most candidates hearing back within 5–10 business days.

The company emphasizes a structured career advancement program, with clear pathways from associate to key holder, shift lead, assistant manager, and store manager positions. Full-time employees receive comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, employee discounts on merchandise, and tuition assistance programs. Learn more by visiting the Dollar General Application Guide.

Dollar Tree – Overview

Dollar Tree operates approximately 16,000 locations nationwide through its Dollar Tree and Family Dollar banners, providing extensive employment opportunities across diverse markets. The company hires store associates, cashiers, stockers, and supervisors at age 18+, with starting pay of $9–$12 per hour. Applications are processed through dollartree.com/careers with decisions typically made within 1–2 weeks.

A distinguishing feature of Dollar Tree is its commitment to internal promotion – the majority of managers and supervisors are promoted from entry-level positions rather than hired externally. This creates genuine career growth opportunities for motivated employees. Full-time employees receive health insurance, a 401(k) plan with company contributions, and employee discounts. For more details, refer to the Dollar Tree Application Guide.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Dollar General if: You seek slightly higher starting wages, prefer a structured and clearly defined career advancement program, or live in an area with exceptional store density. Dollar General provides comprehensive dental and vision benefits for full-time employees.

Choose Dollar Tree if: You value a company culture that strongly promotes from within, prefer working for a slightly smaller organization, or want to join a company where managers actively develop and mentor store-level employees.

Can You Work at Both?

Working at both Dollar General and Dollar Tree simultaneously is theoretically possible due to their abundant locations, but logistically challenging in practice. Both companies maintain similar operating hours (typically 8am–10pm), making schedule overlap likely. Most applicants apply to both companies, then accept whichever offers employment first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which discount retailer pays better, Dollar General or Dollar Tree?

Dollar General offers slightly higher starting wages at $9–$13/hour compared to Dollar Tree at $9–$12/hour. The difference is modest (typically $0.50–$1/hour). Dollar General provides health, dental, and vision coverage while Dollar Tree includes health insurance with a strong promotion-from-within culture.

Is it easier to get hired at Dollar General or Dollar Tree?

Both companies actively hire entry-level retail workers. Dollar General has a reputation for faster hiring, typically responding within 5–10 days. Dollar Tree processes applications within 1–2 weeks. Neither requires prior retail experience, making both equally accessible to first-time job seekers aged 18+.

Which company promotes more managers from within?

Dollar Tree is notable for explicitly promoting the majority of its management staff from store-level positions. Dollar General also promotes from within but has more structured external hiring for some roles, making Dollar Tree the better choice if internal promotion is a priority.

How fast can I advance to a management position?

At both Dollar General and Dollar Tree, advancement from associate to supervisor or assistant manager typically occurs within 1–3 years for high-performing, reliable employees. Store manager positions may require 3–5+ years depending on company performance and location turnover. {“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@graph”:[{“@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Which discount retailer pays better, Dollar General or Dollar Tree?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Dollar General offers slightly higher starting wages at $9-$13/hour compared to Dollar Tree at $9-$12/hour. The difference is modest (typically $0.50-$1/hour).”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Which company promotes more managers from within?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Dollar Tree is notable for explicitly promoting the majority of its management staff from store-level positions. Dollar General also promotes from within but has more structured external hiring for some roles.”}}]},{“@type”:”BreadcrumbList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:1,”name”:”Home”,”item”:”https://online-job-applications.com/”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:2,”name”:”Retail”,”item”:”https://online-job-applications.com/industries-hubs/retail-application/”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:3,”name”:”Dollar General vs Dollar Tree”,”item”:”https://online-job-applications.com/dollar-general-vs-dollar-tree/”}]},{“@type”:”SpeakableSpecification”,”cssSelector”:[“.oja-company-page h1″,”.oja-quick-answer”]}]}