Amazon raises minimum starting pay for full-time core operations employees to $20/hour, with average pay reaching nearly $24/hour, and launches grocery discount and access to new lifetime banking benefits to make everyday life more affordable for our teammates

Key takeaways Minimum starting pay for U. S. full-time core operations roles—many of which require no prior experience—is increasing to $20/hour, with average pay reaching nearly $24/hour. Average total compensation exceeds $32/hour when you include the value of Amazon’s industry-leading benefits package.

Amazon is also providing access to a new lifetime banking benefit for employees called Day 1 Financial—a membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union that provides qualified employees and their families with high-quality, low-cost banking services they can keep for life.

Amazon’s also lowering the cost of groceries for employees, with an uncapped 10% off eligible fresh groceries and everyday essentials on Amazon. com and Whole Foods Market Online, plus 20% off in-store at Whole Foods Market.

These are on top of the benefits Amazon already offers, which include a free Prime membership for eligible employees, healthcare for as low as $5 a week with $5 copays, prepaid education programs, and much more. I spend a lot of time talking with and listening to members of our team out in the field.

I often hear that they appreciate a good paycheck, but also really value the full range of benefits that we offer—which together help them support their families and grow in the long run. So, each year, we look at that full picture—pay, benefits, and how we can continue to support them and their families through many different parts of their lives.

Over the past several years, that’s meant continuing to raise pay—our minimum starting pay has increased more than 17% in the past three years alone—and it’s also meant introducing a wide range of benefits for eligible employees including things like free Prime membership, lowering the costs of healthcare to as low as $5 a week with $5 copays, continuing to expand our education programs so employees can get a certificate or degree and build their career, and continuing to ensure we have the most safe and supportive workplace we can.

This year, we’re excited to build on that with three big new announcements that I hope our team will love.

Amazon's new minimum starting pay for full-time employees: $20/hour First, we’re raising pay across the board —an increase of $1 per hour for eligible employees, bringing our core operations full-time employees’ minimum starting wage to $20 per hour across the country, and our average hourly wage to nearly $24 per hour.

When you add in the value of our industry-leading benefits, average total compensation comes to more than $32 per hour. We also have an annual step plan where pay increases the first three years someone is with us, providing a clear path for how their pay can grow over time.

Expanding access to financial services Second, we’re providing access to a low-cost, high-quality banking benefit called Day 1 Financial —a membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union that provides qualified employees and their families banking services they can keep for life.

With traditional banking, fees and limited access to straightforward financial tools can make it harder for people to get the most from what they earn. This benefit removes some of those barriers and gives employees and their families another resource to help manage their money and plan for the future.

Qualified employees, their spouses, and their children can access the benefit for life, meaning it can continue supporting their financial needs long after their time at Amazon. It includes: $0 overdraft fees, $0 monthly maintenance fees, and no account minimums on standard checking and savings accounts.

No credit history required to open a checking and savings account. Access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs nationwide, plus up to $300 each year in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursement. Mobile and online banking, direct deposit, and credit-building programs designed to create emergency savings and increase financial stability.

Access to competitive credit cards, auto loans, and home loans for those who choose and qualify to use them.

This builds on the financial support we already provide through Brightside Financial Care, a free service that connects employees one-on-one with a financial assistant who can help with everything from budgeting, to managing debt and student loans, to emergency expenses, to understanding their eligible benefits.

More than 150,000 hourly employees have used Brightside since 2022, and together, these resources give employees access to both the financial tools and personalized support that can help them make the most of what they earn and build greater financial security over time.

Day 1 Financial will be provided through an independent, member-owned financial institution, First Tech Federal Credit Union, federally insured by the NCUA. Access will begin rolling out in late 2026 and become broadly available in 2027. Discounts on groceries and everyday essentials for U. S.

Amazon employees And finally, we’re lowering the cost of groceries and everyday es