ALDI vs Coles Working Conditions 2025:
Complete Comparison
ALDI and Coles represent two very different approaches to supermarket employment. This comprehensive guide compares pay, working conditions, culture, career progression, and overall employee experience to help you choose the right employer for your priorities.
Quick Comparison: ALDI vs Coles
| Factor | ALDI | Coles | Winner |
| Pay | $25-30/hour (10-30% higher) | $23-27/hour | ALDI |
| Staff Discount | None | 5% | Coles |
| Career Speed | Very fast (2-4 years to manager) | Moderate (5-8 years) | ALDI |
| Work Pace | Very fast, demanding | Moderate, steady | Coles |
| Work-Life Balance | Challenging | Good | Coles |
| Job Security | Good | Excellent | Coles |
| Training | Intensive, multi-skilled | Comprehensive, specialized | Tie |
| Best For | Ambitious, hard workers | Work-life balance seekers | Depends |
Pay Comparison
Entry-Level Casual Rates
ALDI (21+ Adult):
- Base rate: $25-30/hour (including casual loading)
- 10-30% higher than Coles
Coles (21+ Adult):
- Base rate: $23-27/hour (including casual loading)
- Industry standard
Winner: ALDI – Significantly higher pay
Age-Based Pay Comparison
| Age | ALDI | Coles | ALDI Advantage |
| 18 years | $23-26/hour | $21-25/hour | $2-1/hour more |
| 19 years | $24-27/hour | $22-26/hour | $2-1/hour more |
| 20 years | $26-29/hour | $24-28/hour | $2-1/hour more |
| 21+ years | $27-30/hour | $25-29/hour | $2-1/hour more |
Winner: ALDI – Consistently higher across all ages
Weekly Earnings (21+ Adult, 30 hours/week)
ALDI:
- 30 hours at $28/hour average = $840/week
- Annual: $43,680
Coles:
- 15 hours weekday: $27/hour = $405
- 10 hours Saturday: $40.50/hour = $405
- 5 hours Sunday: $54/hour = $270
- Total: $1,080/week
- Annual: $56,160
Wait – Coles earns more?
Yes! Because Coles has weekend penalty rates (1.5x Saturday, 2x Sunday) while ALDI’s higher base rate doesn’t include penalty rates. If you work weekends at Coles, you can earn more total despite lower base rate.
Management Pay Comparison
| Position | ALDI | Coles | Winner |
| Store Manager | $100,000-135,000/year | $75,000-110,000/year | ALDI |
| Area Manager | $120,000-160,000/year | $100,000-140,000/year | ALDI |
| District Manager | $140,000-180,000/year | $120,000-160,000/year | ALDI |
Winner: ALDI – Significantly higher management salaries
Working Conditions Comparison
Work Pace
ALDI:
- Very fast-paced – constant movement
- Multi-tasking required (cashier also stocks, cleans, etc.)
- Time pressure on all tasks
- Efficiency is paramount
- No downtime
- Physically demanding
Coles:
- Moderate pace – busy but manageable
- Specialized roles (cashier just cashiers)
- Less time pressure
- Steady workflow
- Some quiet periods
- Moderately physical
Winner: Coles – Less demanding pace
Physical Demands
ALDI:
- Very high – constant movement
- Heavy lifting (stock, boxes)
- Standing entire shift
- Fast scanning speeds required
- Multi-tasking while moving
- Exhausting for many
Coles:
- Moderate – standing and some lifting
- Specialized roles reduce variety of physical tasks
- Breaks provided
- Less intense than ALDI
- Manageable for most
Winner: Coles – Less physically demanding
Staffing Levels
ALDI:
- Lean staffing – fewer employees per store
- Each person does more work
- Multi-skilled approach
- High productivity per employee
- Can feel understaffed during busy times
Coles:
- Adequate staffing – more employees per store
- Specialized roles
- Support available
- Better coverage
- Feels more comfortable
Winner: Coles – Better staffing levels
Shift Patterns
ALDI:
- Varied shifts
- Flexibility moderate
- Consistent hours once established
- Weekend work expected
- Full-time opportunities common
Coles:
- Flexible rostering
- Availability-based
- Student-friendly
- Weekend work expected
- Mix of casual/part-time/full-time
Winner: Coles – More flexibility
Work Culture Comparison
Company Culture
ALDI:
- Performance-driven – results matter
- Efficiency-focused
- Meritocracy – hard work rewarded
- Fast career progression for performers
- High expectations
- Professional environment
- Less social, more task-focused
Coles:
- Team-oriented – collaboration valued
- Customer service-focused
- Supportive environment
- Steady career progression
- Balanced expectations
- Professional but friendly
- Social, team atmosphere
Winner: Depends – ALDI for ambitious, Coles for team culture
Management Style
ALDI:
- Results-oriented
- High performance expectations
- Direct feedback
- Efficiency-focused
- Professional
- Less hand-holding
Coles:
- Supportive management (varies by store)
- Balanced expectations
- Regular feedback
- Customer service-focused
- Approachable
- More guidance
Winner: Coles – More supportive (though varies by manager)
Work-Life Balance
ALDI:
- Challenging – demanding work
- High intensity during shifts
- Exhausting for many
- Less flexibility
- Work hard, earn more philosophy
Coles:
- Good – reasonable demands
- Manageable intensity
- Sustainable long-term
- More flexibility
- Better balance
Winner: Coles – Significantly better work-life balance
Benefits Comparison
Staff Discount
ALDI:
- None – no staff discount
- Higher pay compensates
Coles:
- 5% on groceries
- Weekly team member specials (10-30% off items)
- 5% at Coles Express
- 5% at Liquorland
Winner: Coles – Discount valuable (ALDI’s higher pay may compensate)
Employee Benefits
ALDI:
- Higher base pay
- Superannuation (11%)
- Paid leave (permanent staff)
- Training and development
- Fast career progression
Coles:
- Competitive pay
- Superannuation (11%)
- Paid leave (permanent staff)
- EAP (counseling, support)
- Training and development
- Health and wellbeing programs
- Staff discount
Winner: Coles – More comprehensive benefits package
Career Development
ALDI:
- Intensive training – multi-skilled
- Fast-track leadership programs
- Promotion from within (almost exclusively)
- Very fast progression (2-4 years to manager)
- International opportunities
Coles:
- Comprehensive training – specialized
- Leadership development programs
- Promotion from within (70-80%)
- Moderate progression (5-8 years to manager)
- Coles University (online learning)
Winner: ALDI – Faster career progression
Career Progression Comparison
Time to Store Manager
ALDI:
- 2-4 years from entry-level to Store Manager
- Very fast progression
- Performance-based
- Intensive development
Coles:
- 5-8 years from entry-level to Store Manager
- Moderate progression
- Experience-based
- Steady development
Winner: ALDI – Much faster progression
Career Path
ALDI:
1.Store Assistant (entry)
2.Assistant Store Manager (1-2 years)
3.Store Manager (2-4 years)
4.District Manager (5-7 years)
Coles:
1.Team Member (entry)
2.Department Supervisor (2-3 years)
3.Department Manager (4-6 years)
4.Store Manager (7-10 years)
5.Area Manager (10+ years)
Winner: ALDI – Faster, clearer path
Management Opportunities
ALDI:
- More management positions relative to staff
- Faster promotion
- Higher management salaries
- International opportunities
Coles:
- More total positions (larger company)
- Steady progression
- Competitive management salaries
- National opportunities
Winner: ALDI – Faster progression, higher pay
Job Security Comparison
ALDI:
- Good job security
- Performance-based (must perform well)
- Smaller company = fewer total positions
- Expanding in Australia
Coles:
- Excellent job security
- Large, established company
- More total positions
- Stable, long-term employer
Winner: Coles – Larger company, more stability
Which is Better?
Choose ALDI If You:
✅ Want highest pay (10-30% more base rate)
✅ Are ambitious and career-focused (fast progression)
✅ Thrive under pressure (demanding environment)
✅ Want to become manager quickly (2-4 years vs 5-8)
✅ Are physically capable (very demanding work)
✅ Value high earnings over work-life balance
✅ Are hard-working and efficient
✅ Want challenge and growth
Choose Coles If You:
✅ Want better work-life balance (less demanding)
✅ Prefer team-oriented culture (supportive environment)
✅ Value staff discount (5% on groceries)
✅ Want more flexibility (student-friendly)
✅ Prefer specialized roles (less multi-tasking)
✅ Want comprehensive benefits (EAP, programs)
✅ Prefer moderate pace (less intense)
✅ Value job security (larger, established company)
Real Employee Feedback
ALDI Employees Say:
Positive:
- “Best pay in retail”
- “Fast career progression if you work hard”
- “Learn a lot quickly”
- “Meritocracy – performance rewarded”
- “Great for building skills”
Negative:
- “Very demanding and exhausting”
- “High pressure constantly”
- “Physically tiring”
- “No staff discount”
- “Lean staffing feels understaffed”
- “Not for everyone – very intense”
Coles Employees Say:
Positive:
- “Good work-life balance”
- “Supportive team culture”
- “Staff discount helpful”
- “Manageable workload”
- “Flexible for students”
Negative:
- “Pay could be higher”
- “Slower career progression”
- “Can be busy during peak times”
- “Corporate culture sometimes impersonal”
Total Compensation Comparison
Scenario 1: Entry-Level Casual (30 hours/week, 21+ adult)
ALDI:
- 30 hours at $28/hour = $840/week
- Annual: $43,680
- No discount
Coles (with weekend shifts):
- 15 hours weekday: $27/hour = $405
- 10 hours Saturday: $40.50/hour = $405
- 5 hours Sunday: $54/hour = $270
- Total: $1,080/week
- Annual: $56,160
- Plus 5% discount (~$500/year value)
- Total value: ~$56,660/year
Winner: Coles – If working weekends, penalty rates make up for lower base rate
Scenario 2: Store Manager
ALDI:
- Salary: $100,000-135,000/year
- Reach in: 2-4 years
- No discount
Coles:
- Salary: $75,000-110,000/year
- Reach in: 7-10 years
- 5% discount (~$500/year)
Winner: ALDI – Higher salary reached much faster
The Honest Truth
Pay: ALDI Wins (Base Rate)
ALDI pays 10-30% higher base rates. However, Coles can pay more total if you work weekends due to penalty rates (1.5x Saturday, 2x Sunday).
Career: ALDI Wins (Speed)
ALDI offers much faster career progression (2-4 years to manager vs 5-8 years) and higher management salaries ($100k-135k vs $75k-110k).
Work-Life Balance: Coles Wins
Coles offers significantly better work-life balance with moderate pace, better staffing, and more flexibility.
Culture: Coles Wins (For Most)
Coles offers more supportive, team-oriented culture that most people prefer over ALDI’s intense, performance-driven environment.
Overall: Depends on Your Priorities
- Want maximum earnings and fast career? → ALDI
- Want balance and sustainable work? → Coles
Conclusion
ALDI and Coles represent fundamentally different employment experiences. ALDI offers higher pay (10-30% more base rate) and much faster career progression (2-4 years to manager vs 5-8 years) but demands intense, physically demanding work in a high-pressure environment. Coles offers better work-life balance, supportive culture, staff discounts, and more sustainable working conditions but with lower base pay and slower career progression.
Key Takeaways:
✅ ALDI: Higher pay, faster career, more demanding
✅ Coles: Better balance, supportive culture, more sustainable
✅ Pay: ALDI base rate higher, but Coles weekend penalty rates can equal or exceed
✅ Career: ALDI much faster (2-4 years to manager vs 5-8)
✅ Culture: Coles more supportive, ALDI more intense
✅ Best choice: Depends on whether you prioritize earnings/career or balance/culture
Best Strategy:
Consider your priorities:
- Ambitious, hard-working, want fast career? → ALDI
- Want balance, support, sustainable work? → Coles
- Not sure? → Try ALDI first (higher pay, faster progression), can always move to Coles if too intense
Both are good employers – choose based on your personality, priorities, and career goals.
Related Articles:
- Woolworths vs Coles Pay Rate
- Best Supermarket to Work For Australia
- ALDI Work Culture Guide
- Coles Employee Benefits
- Which Retail Job Pays the Most