Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Walmart had already hired more than 1,000 employees at its new Stockton fulfillment center, based on information provided by the City of Stockton. Walmart subsequently clarified that the facility expects to employ more than 1,000 workers once fully staffed and is still hiring.
Walmart opened a more than 900,000-square-foot fulfillment center in South Stockton on Thursday, with plans to employ more than 1,000 workers as the retailer expands its shipping operations across California and the West Coast.
The facility, located at 5150 E. Mariposa Road, is Walmart’s fifth next-generation fulfillment center and uses automation, machine learning and other technologies to process online orders more efficiently.
Once fully staffed, the facility will employ more than 1,000 workers, according to Walmart. The company said it continues to recruit employees for various positions, including technology-focused roles, as operations expand.
City officials expect the facility to generate additional sales tax revenue for Stockton because it will operate as a point-of-sale location. The city did not specify how much additional revenue it expects to collect.
The city’s announcement also highlighted the facility’s proximity to the Port of Stockton, Stockton Metropolitan Airport, rail lines and Interstate 5 and Highway 99 as factors attracting industrial development to the area.
In an Oct. 8 announcement, Walmart said the facility’s technology will allow it to process more orders each day and bring products closer to customers across the western United States.
The building features an automated storage and retrieval system that brings products directly to employees rather than requiring workers to travel through the warehouse to locate items.
According to Walmart, the technology reduces its traditional 12-step fulfillment process to five steps, allowing employees to focus on other tasks while increasing the facility’s storage and order-processing capacity.
“Stockton represents what we mean when we say Walmart is people-led and tech-powered,” said Karisa Sprague, senior vice president of fulfillment operations for Walmart U.S., in the company’s announcement.
“We’re bringing together associates with advanced technology and automation to create a safer, more efficient operation that can fulfill more orders and get products to customers faster,” Sprague said.
Walmart said its network of next-generation fulfillment centers will help the company reach 95% of the U.S. population with next-day or two-day shipping. The Stockton facility will also handle orders for third-party sellers using Walmart’s online marketplace.
The company did not disclose starting wages for the Stockton positions in its announcement.
Full-time employees are eligible for benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off and access to Walmart’s tuition-paid college education program.
Applicants can find available positions through Walmart’s careers website.
Vice Mayor Jason Lee, who represents District 6, described the facility as an investment in his district in a Facebook post Thursday.
“Great businesses make great neighbors! It’s not just about what happens inside their walls. It’s about investing in families, supporting young people, creating opportunities, and helping surrounding neighborhoods thrive,” Lee wrote.
Lee also highlighted the company’s stated commitment to clean energy and sustainability and pledged to support partnerships between Walmart and surrounding neighborhoods.
“You have my personal commitment to support Walmart’s continued growth while building partnerships that benefit District 6 residents for generations to come,” he wrote.
The development, however, has also faced opposition from South Stockton residents concerned about air pollution and the environmental effects of additional industrial activity.
Patt Barrett, a District 6 resident and community advocate, said she opposed the development during its planning stages, citing economic, environmental and social justice concerns.
Barrett said she remains particularly concerned about additional traffic from employees commuting to the facility and its potential effect on air quality in surrounding neighborhoods.
“My original view is against it unless it’s compliant,” Barrett said.
She said she remains open to meeting with Walmart representatives to discuss the facility’s operations and environmental safeguards before reconsidering her position.
The concerns follow years of environmental scrutiny surrounding warehouse development in South Stockton.
In December 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an agreement with the City of Stockton to strengthen environmental safeguards for the Mariposa Industrial Park project, which includes Walmart’s fulfillment center.
The agreement followed concerns raised by the Attorney General’s Office in 2021 and 2022 that the city’s environmental review had not adopted all feasible measures to reduce the project’s impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The safeguards included requirements addressing truck emissions, renewable energy, landscaped barriers and a community benefit fund supporting clean-air projects in South Stockton.
According to the Department of Justice, some South Stockton neighborhoods ranked among the 10% most pollution-burdened communities in California.
A July 2025 state environmental filing concerning proposed emergency diesel-powered equipment at Walmart’s facility references the larger Mariposa Industrial Park environmental review, which identified significant environmental impacts and included mitigation requirements.
The filing does not establish whether the completed Walmart facility currently meets all applicable environmental requirements.
Timm Quinn, CEO of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the project, describing it as an investment in local employment and economic development.
“Walmart’s new fulfillment center will create more than 1,000 jobs, bring new career opportunities to our residents and strengthen Stockton’s position as a hub for innovation and economic growth in the Central Valley,” Quinn said in Walmart’s announcement.
During Thursday’s grand opening, Walmart announced a combined $10,000 in grants benefiting the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton and Unbound Stockton Community School.
The retailer said it employs more than 102,900 people in California and operates more than 300 stores, clubs and supply chain facilities across the state.
Walmart said hiring at the Stockton facility will continue as operations ramp up.