Amazon Lifts Starting Pay for Operations Staff to $20

Amazon has nudged its US starting wage up to $20 an hour, with average pay now at $24, the company announced Wednesday. The $1 bump affects hundreds of thousands of workers for one of the country's largest private employers, the Guardian reports. The increase applies to full-time operations workers, whose duties include logistics and transportation at Amazon fulfillment centers, per CBS News.

The company is also rolling out expanded grocery discounts: 10% off eligible fresh items and everyday staples on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market Online, plus 20% off in-store at Whole Foods. Amazon owns Whole Foods. The discounts are available to all Amazon employees, per the Hill, which has the fine print here. The change puts Amazon's base pay on par with that of Costco, which set its minimum at $20 in 2025, and ahead of Target and Walmart, where starting wages remain $15 and $14 respectively. An Amazon operations executive framed the changes as part of a broader, long-term investment in workers.