Amazon raises the minimum hourly wage for core operational employees in the United States to $20

Amazon announced that it will raise the minimum starting hourly wage for core operations employees in the U.S. (delivery drivers and fulfillment center employees) to $20, with an average hourly wage approaching $24, and a $1 increase for eligible employees.

Udit Madan, Amazon's Senior Vice President, stated in the company blog: After accounting for the value of industry-leading benefits, the average total compensation exceeds $32 per hour. This pay raise investment exceeds $1.5 billion.

New benefits include Day 1 Financial low-cost banking system, eligibility for First Tech Federal Credit Union membership, a 20% in-store discount at Whole Foods Market, and a 10% discount on Amazon grocery orders. Existing benefits include free Prime membership, prepaid education programs, and healthcare coverage.