Wal-Mart distributed bonuses to more than 4,000 Maine employees last week, payments that reflect strong fourth-quarter earnings for the mega retailer.

The average Maine bonus amounted to $183.13, according to a news release from Wal-Mart. Bonuses were distributed to more than 850,000 Wal-Mart employees in the U.S. after the close of the fourth quarter, when the company reported revenues north of $130 billion and strong comparable sales. More than $157 million was awarded in the quarterly bonus, including $800,000 for Maine, destined for 4,414 employees.

Wal-Mart is Maine’s third-largest private employer with more than 7,000 employees. The quarterly bonuses were awarded to employees who had been with the company for at least six months and, in the case of entry-level workers, completed the Pathways training program.

In 2015, Wal-Mart announced it would increase minimum pay for its employees and expand training opportunities. Training programs for entry-level workers, frontline supervisors, department managers and assistant managers were all launched in 2016.

In Maine, the retailer promoted 959 employees to jobs with higher pay and more responsibility, and 666 employees were converted from part time to full time, according to the company.

Information supplied by Dunn & Bradstreet said Wal-Mart operates 22 stores in Maine and is expected to spend $47.6 million with local suppliers, supporting 22,872 indirect jobs this year. It also paid more than $31.9 million in Maine taxes and collected more than $60.1 million in sales taxes in 2016.


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