Amazon increases its starting salary by $1 – but grants workers 10% off groceries when they order with tech giant
Amazon is raising starting wages for some workers and giving all U.S. employees new grocery discounts and access to a banking benefit.
Starting September 27, full-time U.S. employees in Amazon’s core operations roles will earn at least $20 an hour, a $1 increase, the company announced Wednesday. The roles include workers who pick, pack and sort customer orders, as well as those involved in transporting them. Many of the positions do not require prior experience.
The move brings average hourly pay for its U.S. core operations employees to nearly $24 an hour, Amazon says.
The increase comes as Amazon heads into the holiday shopping season, when the company typically adds workers to handle increased demand. Amazon said its minimum starting pay has increased by more than 17 percent over the past three years.
“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,” Udit Madan, the senior vice president for Amazon’s worldwide operations, wrote in a blog post.
Additionally, starting October 1, every Amazon employee in the U.S. will also be eligible for new discounts on groceries and everyday essentials.
Employees will receive 10 percent off eligible fresh groceries and everyday essentials purchased through Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market Online. The discount is uncapped, according to Amazon.
Workers will also receive 20 percent off purchases at physical Whole Foods Market stores, including the retailer's hot bar and salad bar. The discount can be combined with existing Prime member discounts.
Amazon has expanded its grocery business in recent years, including through its ownership of Whole Foods Market, which it acquired in 2017. The company has also expanded same-day grocery delivery to more communities across the U.S.
Wednesday’s announcement also introduced a financial benefit called Day 1 Financial, through First Tech Federal Credit Union.
The program will give qualified employees and their spouses and children access to banking services that they can keep for life, even after leaving Amazon. The accounts will have no overdraft or monthly maintenance fees and no account minimums for standard checking and savings accounts. A credit history will not be required to open those accounts, Amazon said.
The benefit also includes access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs, up to $300 a year in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements, direct deposit, mobile and online banking and credit-building programs. Employees who qualify can also apply for credit cards and loans.
Amazon said the banking benefit will begin rolling out later in 2026 and become broadly available in 2027.
The new benefits build on Amazon's existing employee offerings, including free Prime memberships for eligible workers, health care starting at $5 a week with $5 copays under an eligible plan, prepaid education programs, a 401(k) with company matching and paid parental leave.
Amazon's latest pay increase follows a similar compensation investment announced by the company in September 2025, when it said average pay for fulfillment and transportation employees would rise above $23 an hour and average total compensation would exceed $30 an hour with benefits.
