# Amazon raises starting pay to $20 an hour

> Amazon boosts worker pay and adds grocery discounts and banking perks to attract and retain talent.
- Title: Amazon raises starting pay to $20 an hour · CBS News
- Summary: Amazon boosts worker pay and adds grocery discounts and banking perks to attract and retain talent. Amazon is raising its minimum starting wage by $1 to $20…
- Keywords: amazon, wages, starting pay, employee benefits, whole foods, grocery discounts, fulfillment centers, operations workers, seattle, first tech federal credit union, pay raise, news
- Source: CBS News — https://cbsnews.com/news/amazon-starting-pay-raise-grocery-perks
- Author: Mary  Cunningham
- Published: 2026-09-16T15:56:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: amazon, wages, starting pay, employee benefits, whole foods, grocery discounts, fulfillment centers, operations workers, seattle, first tech federal credit union, pay raise, news
## Amazon raises starting wage to $20
Amazon is increasing minimum starting pay for full-time operations workers by $1 to $20 an hour, bringing average worker pay to $24 an hour.

> The new hourly wage represents a $1 increase from its current starting level.
## Grocery discounts roll out October 1st
All U.S. Amazon employees will get 10% off fresh groceries on Amazon.com and Whole Foods online, plus 20% off in-store at Whole Foods locations starting October 1.

> Beginning Oct. 1, all U.S. employees will get 10% off eligible fresh groceries on Amazon.com and the Whole Foods website, and a 20% discount in-store at Whole Foods locations.
## Banking partnership launches late 2026
Amazon is offering employee memberships with First Tech Federal Credit Union starting in late 2026, with benefits extending to spouses and children for life.

> Qualified employees, their spouses and their children will qualify for First Tech membership for life.
## New perks join existing benefits
The grocery and banking perks add to Amazon's current offerings like free Prime memberships and healthcare insurance for eligible employees.
## Amazon employs 1.5 million workers
Amazon's workforce spans roughly 1.5 million employees across the U.S., making it one of the country's largest employers.
## Key takeaway

Amazon is raising its minimum starting wage by $1 to $20 an hour while rolling out new employee benefits including grocery discounts and banking services.