Amazon Raises Minimum Starting Pay for U.S. Operations Workers to $20/Hour

TechCrunch · United States · Sep 16, 2026

Amazon is increasing minimum starting pay for its U.S. core operations workers — including delivery drivers and fulfillment center employees — to $20 per hour, with average hourly pay rising to nearly $24 per hour, a $1/hour increase for eligible workers. The company says the total investment exceeds $1.5 billion and that average total compensation, including benefits, reaches over $32 per hour. Additional perks announced include access to a low-cost banking program and grocery discounts at Whole Foods. The move signals continued upward wage pressure in warehouse and logistics labor markets, directly affecting staffing agencies that place workers in competing roles.