POST FALLS - Walmart is upping the ante on its starting wages.

The retail giant, as of Saturday, raised the starting wage to $9 an hour for all of its Idaho employees, the company announced in a press release.

Most of Walmart's entry-level employees at the two Post Falls locations and one in Hayden previously started at $8.40 an hour.

The company also announced that by February 2016 all of its current associates, which are entry-level positions, will earn at least $10 per hour.

Idaho's minimum wage is the same as the federal minimum, $7.25 per hour. Walmart's wage increase in Idaho comes closer to leveling the playing field to positions in Washington, where the minimum wage is $9.47.

The wage hike affects 2,992 of 7,094 total associates (42 percent) in Idaho. Company officials didn't immediately know how many total local employees the increase will affect. About 800 total people work at the three local stores combined.

"This is an investment in the company's employees," said Ardie Wardell, who manages the Walmart on Mullan Avenue in Post Falls. "It's Walmart's effort to raise its minimum wage across the board for what it pays associates. Everybody is trying to make ends meet, so every bit helps. We appreciate the company's efforts to do more for its associates. We're headed in the right direction."

Wardell has worked for the company for 10 years, including the past eight in Post Falls, and he said the last time he remembers seeing a salary adjustment of this magnitude - $1 billion corporation-wide, according to the company - was about nine years ago.

The wage increases apply to both part- and full-time associates. They are separate from annual pay hikes given by the company.

Kelcie Farnsworth, an associate at an eastern Idaho Walmart, said the pay increases, more choice in scheduling and enhanced training programs will provide more opportunities for employee growth.

With the hikes, the new average for full-time associates in Idaho is $12.49 an hour, according to the company.

"Walmart is also raising the floor and ceiling of its in-store pay bands in most stores and is providing raises to associates earning at the maximum of their pay band," the press release states.

Pam Eaton, president of the Idaho Retailers Association, praised Walmart's wage move.

"Walmart's $1 billion investment in its workforce will make a tremendous difference to thousands of families across Idaho," she said.