QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") is made and
entered into this 1st day of November, by Ross Stores, Inc. (the "Company") and
James Peters (the "Executive"). The Executive and the Company previously entered
into an Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") effective August 14, 2000
(attached hereto) and it is now the intention of the Executive and the Company
to amend the Agreement as set forth below. Accordingly, the Executive and the
Company now enter into this Amendment.

I.The Executive and the Company hereby amend the Agreement by deleting
Paragraph 9 (c) (i) of the Agreement in its entirety and by replacing it with
the following new paragraph 9 (c) (i):

(i)Lump Sum Payment. The Company shall pay to the Executive (or his designee or
estate), immediately upon such termination, a lump sum amount equal to: (A) the
sum of the Executive's then current salary and the greater of the most recent
bonus paid to the Executive under the Management Incentive Plan or the target
bonus for the fiscal year of the Company in which such termination occurs; times
(B) the greater of two or the number of years (including partial years computed
on a per day basis) remaining in the term of the Agreement under paragraph 1 (as
extended pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 4(b)). The Executive will not receive the
additional salary (i.e., $1,500,000 for two years) described in paragraph 4
(b) {Change of Control} as part of this lump sum payment. Rather, the additional
salary provided in paragraph 4(b) will be paid over two years in accordance with
the Company's normal payroll policies applicable to senior officers.
II.The Executive and the Company further amend the Agreement by adding
Paragraph 9 (c) (iv) to the Agreement:

(iv)Estate Planning. In the event of the termination of Executive's employment
following a Change of Control, then Executive shall also be entitled to the
reimbursement of the Executive's estate planning expenses (including attorneys'
fees) as to which and on the terms of which Executive was entitled prior to the
termination for a period of two (2) years following the date of termination of
employment.

    Except for the amendments, as set forth above, the Agreement and all of its
terms remain in force and in effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this First Amendment to the
Agreement as of            , effective            through             .

ROSS STORES, INC.   EXECUTIVE
/s/ Michael Balmuth

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
/s/ James Peters

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and CEO   James Peters, President and COO
11/01/01

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date
 
11/11/01

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QuickLinks

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT