Quick Answer

Yes, Albertsons does hire people with felony convictions on a case-by-case basis. As one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S., Albertsons operates 2,200+ stores in 34 states and evaluates each applicant individually. Your best opportunities are in overnight stocker, cart attendant, and warehouse positions starting at $12-16/hour. Theft charges are more problematic for positions handling money, but deli, bakery, and stocking roles are more accessible. Time since conviction and the specific offense significantly affect hiring decisions.

Last Verified: October 2025

Table of Contents

1. Quick Answer

2. About Albertsons

3. Does Albertsons Hire People with Felonies?

4. What Jobs Can Felons Get at Albertsons?

5. Easiest Positions to Get

6. What to Expect: Albertsons Background Check

7. How to Apply to Albertsons with a Felony Record

8. Common Questions About Working at Albertsons with a Felony

9. Other Grocery Stores That Hire Felons

10. Final Thoughts

About Albertsons

Albertsons Companies operates multiple grocery store brands including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, and others. Combined, the company runs over 2,200 stores primarily in the West Coast, Mountain States, and some Midwest locations, employing approximately 300,000 people.

Grocery stores need constant staffing. High turnover in entry-level positions like stocking and cart attendance means frequent job openings. Albertsons stores operate 24 hours in some locations, creating night shift opportunities.

For people with records, Albertsons matters because grocery work doesn't require advanced education. If you're willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays, you have opportunities here.

Does Albertsons Hire People with Felonies?

Yes. Albertsons' official policy is case-by-case evaluation.

Official Policy

Albertsons doesn't automatically reject applicants with criminal records. Each application receives individual review. The company considers offense type, time elapsed, and job requirements.

Real-World Practice

Overnight stockers and cart attendants with records get hired regularly. Deli and bakery workers with non-theft felonies find opportunities. Cashier positions face more scrutiny due to money handling.

Different store locations have different hiring managers. One store's rejection doesn't prevent you from trying another Albertsons location.

What Affects Hiring Decisions

Time since conviction: 3+ years improves chances. 5+ years is significantly better for cashier roles.

Type of offense: Theft and fraud are problematic for cashiers and positions with access to expensive merchandise. Violence and drug offenses are reviewed more leniently for stocking and warehouse work.

The specific job: Overnight stocker is easiest. Cashier is hardest. Deli and bakery are middle ground.

Shift flexibility: Willingness to work overnight, early morning, or closing shifts increases your value.

Disqualifying Factors

• Recent theft or fraud (within 3 years) for customer-facing roles

• Sex offenses (severely limits opportunities)

• Violent offenses (for positions near customers)

• Failed drug tests

• Active warrants

  
  

Time Requirements

Albertsons doesn't publish waiting periods. In practice:

• 1-2 years: Possible for overnight stock and warehouse

• 3-5 years: Good chances for most back-of-house positions

• 5+ years: Better chances including some cashier opportunities

• 7+ years: Strong chances for all positions

What Jobs Can Felons Get at Albertsons?

Overnight Stocker

Pay: $13-16/hour (often includes night differential)

Availability: Excellent

Background Check: Yes, but lenient

Stocking shelves from 10pm-6am or similar overnight hours. Physical work moving boxes and organizing products. Limited customer interaction.

This is your best entry point. Albertsons needs overnight stockers constantly. High turnover. If you can lift 50+ pounds repeatedly and work through the night, this job is achievable.

Cart Attendant

Pay: $12-14/hour

Availability: Good

Background Check: Yes, but lenient

Gathering shopping carts from parking lot, maintaining cart areas, helping customers load vehicles. Outdoor physical work in all weather.

Good opportunity for people with records. Limited responsibility beyond cart management. Many stores hire cart attendants with various backgrounds.

Deli Clerk

Pay: $12-15/hour

Availability: Good

Background Check: Moderate

Slicing meats and cheeses, preparing food, serving customers, cleaning deli equipment. Requires food handler certification.

Achievable with non-theft records. You'll handle food and interact with customers but won't manage cash directly. Food handler card required (easy to obtain).

Bakery Clerk

Pay: $12-15/hour

Availability: Good

Background Check: Moderate

Baking bread and pastries, decorating cakes, stocking bakery items, assisting customers. Early morning shifts common.

Similar to deli work. Non-theft felonies are acceptable. Early morning shifts (4am-12pm) are easier to get. Baking experience helps but isn't required.

Produce Clerk

Pay: $12-15/hour

Availability: Good

Background Check: Moderate

Stocking fruits and vegetables, rotating products, maintaining produce displays, assisting customers. Physical work keeping produce fresh.

Good option for people with records. Limited theft concerns with perishable produce. Customer interaction is minimal.

Cashier (Difficult)

Pay: $12-16/hour

Availability: Moderate

Background Check: Strict

Operating cash registers, processing transactions, handling money, bagging groceries, providing customer service.

Difficult with any felony. Theft charges are nearly disqualifying. Other felonies require 5-7 years minimum. Cashiers handle money and gift cards constantly.

Warehouse Worker (Distribution Centers)

Pay: $14-18/hour

Availability: Good

Background Check: Moderate

Working in Albertsons distribution centers. Loading trucks, picking orders, forklift operation, inventory management.

Good opportunity, especially if you have forklift certification. Distribution centers hire separately from retail stores. Check albertsonscompanies.com/careers for warehouse positions.

Night Crew Leader (After Experience)

Pay: $16-20/hour

Availability: Limited initially

Background Check: Moderate

Supervising overnight stocking crew. Typically requires 1-2 years experience as stocker first.

Achievable promotion path. Start as overnight stocker, prove yourself, move into leadership.

Easiest Positions to Get

1. Overnight Stocker (highest acceptance rate)

2. Cart Attendant (constant turnover)

3. Deli/Bakery Clerk (non-theft felonies)

What to Expect: Albertsons Background Check

When It Happens

Background checks occur after conditional offer:

1. Apply online at albertsonscompanies.com/careers

2. Interview with department manager or store manager

3. Conditional job offer

4. Background check

5. Final hiring decision

   
   

What They Check

• Criminal history (felonies and misdemeanors)

• Employment verification

• Sex offender registry

• Drug screening (urinalysis)

  
  

How Far Back They Look

Standard: 7 years for most positions

Exceptions: Some states allow Albertsons to see full criminal history. Cashier and management positions may review older convictions.

Timeline

• Application to interview: 1-2 weeks

• Interview to offer: 3-7 days

• Background check: 3-5 business days

• Total process: 2-3 weeks typically

How to Apply to Albertsons with a Felony Record

1. Be honest about your record.

Albertsons will discover it during background check. Lying results in disqualification.

2. Apply online at albertsonscompanies.com/careers

Search for "stocker," "overnight stock," or "cart attendant" positions. These have highest acceptance rates.

3. Target overnight and early morning shifts.

Graveyard shift (10pm-6am) and morning shifts (4am-12pm) are easier to get. Albertsons needs workers for less desirable hours.

4. Apply to multiple Albertsons stores.

Different stores, different managers, different decisions. One rejection doesn't prevent trying other locations. Albertsons owns many brands - try Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco too.

5. Emphasize physical capabilities.

Stocking and cart work are physically demanding. Highlight your ability to lift heavy items repeatedly.

6. Get food handler certification before applying.

For deli and bakery positions, having your food handler card shows initiative. Many states offer online courses for $10-15.

7. Prepare your brief explanation.

30-60 seconds:

• "I made a mistake [X] years ago"

• "I completed my sentence and probation"

• "I've stayed out of trouble since"

• "I'm looking for steady work where I can prove myself"

  
  

8. Be flexible about locations and hours.

Say yes to any shift offered initially. Prove yourself, then request schedule changes later.

Common Questions About Working at Albertsons with a Felony

Does Albertsons hire violent felons?

Sometimes, particularly for overnight stock and warehouse positions. Violence is less problematic than theft for grocery work. Customer interaction roles face more scrutiny. Time since conviction matters significantly.

How long do I need to wait after my conviction?

No official waiting period. Many people get hired for overnight stock with convictions 1-2 years old. For cashier positions, 5+ years is practically necessary.

Will Albertsons hire me with a theft charge?

Depends on the position and time elapsed. Overnight stocker with 5+ year old theft? Possible. Cashier with recent theft? Very unlikely. Theft is viewed seriously but isn't absolute disqualifier for all positions.

Can I work at Albertsons if I'm on probation?

Yes. Albertsons hires people on probation regularly. Make sure your probation officer approves overnight work if that's your shift. Some probation terms have curfews.

Does Albertsons do drug testing?

Yes, pre-employment drug testing is standard. Some positions may have random testing. Albertsons tests for illegal drugs.

Can I transfer from stocker to other positions?

Yes. Many people start as overnight stockers and transfer to day shift, deli, bakery, or even cashier after proving reliability. Internal transfers are common.

What's the dress code?

Varies by department. Stock crew wears casual clothes and company-provided vests. Deli and bakery require uniforms. Albertsons provides required uniform items.

Other Grocery Stores That Hire Felons

Kroger - Large grocery chain. Similar hiring to Albertsons. Stocker and clerk positions. $12-17/hour. 35 states.

Walmart - Supercenter and grocery. Very high volume hiring. Case-by-case evaluation. $14-18/hour. All states.

Target - Retail with grocery sections. Warehouse and fulfillment opportunities. $15-20/hour. All states.

Safeway (Albertsons-owned) - Same parent company. Apply if Albertsons says no. $13-17/hour. West Coast.

Publix - Southeast grocery chain. Employee-owned. Good benefits. Case-by-case hiring. $13-17/hour. Southeast only.

Food Lion - Southeast grocery. Stocker and clerk positions. $12-15/hour. Southeast only.

Aldi - Discount grocery. Known for second-chance hiring. Excellent pay. $15-18/hour. 36 states.

Meijer - Midwest supercenter. Grocery and general merchandise. $13-17/hour. Midwest only.

Final Thoughts

Albertsons offers real opportunities for people with felony records, especially in overnight stocking and cart attendant positions. Your criminal history doesn't automatically disqualify you.

Target back-of-house positions, be flexible about shifts, and emphasize your work ethic. Many people have rebuilt careers starting as Albertsons overnight stockers.

Start here: Visit albertsonscompanies.com/careers and search for stocker or cart attendant positions in your area. Also check careers pages for Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, and other Albertsons-owned brands.