Amazon Boosts Starting Pay to $20 Hourly, Adds Perks for U.S. Workers

Amazon is increasing its starting pay for full-time operations workers to $20 an hour, marking a $1 increase from the current level. The new wage will bring average pay to $24 an hour for Amazon workers.

The change is part of a series of employee perks announced by the e-commerce giant on Wednesday. Starting October 1, all U.S. employees will receive 10% off eligible fresh groceries on Amazon.com and the Whole Foods website, as well as a 20% discount in-store at Whole Foods locations.

The company is also offering employee memberships with First Tech Federal Credit Union, which provides banking services, starting in late 2026. Qualified employees, their spouses, and their children will be eligible for membership for life, allowing them to access it even after leaving the company.