Amazon is raising starting wages for some workers and giving all U.S. employees new grocery discounts and access to a banking benefit.
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Amazon → raise → 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.
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company → start → 20
The roles include workers who pick, pack and sort customer orders, as well as those involved in transporting them.
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who → include → them
Many of the positions do not require prior experience.
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Many → require → experience
The move brings average hourly pay for its U.S. core operations employees to nearly $24 an hour, Amazon says.
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Amazon → bring → 24
The increase comes as Amazon heads into the holiday shopping season, when the company typically adds workers to handle increased demand.
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company → come → demand
Amazon said its minimum starting pay has increased by more than 17 percent over the past three years.
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pay → say → 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.
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Madan → have → post
Additionally, starting October 1, every Amazon employee in the U.S. will also be eligible for new discounts on groceries and everyday essentials.
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employee → start → groceries
Employees will receive 10 percent off eligible fresh groceries and everyday essentials purchased through Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market Online.
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Employees → receive → Amazon.com
The discount is uncapped, according to Amazon.
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discount → accord → Amazon
Workers will also receive 20 percent off purchases at physical Whole Foods Market stores, including the retailer's hot bar and salad bar.
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Workers → receive → bar
The discount can be combined with existing Prime member discounts.
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discount → combine → discounts
Amazon has expanded its grocery business in recent years, including through its ownership of Whole Foods Market, which it acquired in 2017.
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it → expand → 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.
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announcement → expand → 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.
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they → give → Amazon
The accounts will have no overdraft or monthly maintenance fees and no account minimums for standard checking and savings accounts.
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accounts → have → accounts
A credit history will not be required to open those accounts, Amazon said.
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Amazon → require → accounts
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.
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benefit → include → reimbursements
Employees who qualify can also apply for credit cards and loans.
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who → qualify → cards
Amazon said the banking benefit will begin rolling out later in 2026 and become broadly available in 2027.
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benefit → say → 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.
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benefits → build → matching
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.
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compensation → follow → benefits
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