Amazon raises minimum hourly pay by $1

NewsAmazon raised the wages of employees around this time last year, as well. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)APBy Claudia Dimuro | cdimuro@pennlive.comEligible Amazon employees will be getting a pay raise, and even a new benefit.According to a company press release published Wednesday, the minimum starting pay for full-time core operations roles in the United States is now $20 an hour. This is a $1 an hourly increase, The Hill states, and brings Amazon’s average hourly wage to nearly $24 an hour. The average total employee wage now exceeds $32 per hour, the value of its benefit package included. On top of that, Amazon is now offering a new banking benefit called “Day1Financial,” which allows qualified workers and their families to join First Tech Credit Union for banking services they get to keep for life. The company also confirmed that — as of Oct. 1 — employees nationwide will be able to get 10 percent off groceries they order only through Amazon and Whole Foods. A 20 percent discount will be applied in-store at Whole Foods. Amazon states that this 10 percent discount will go towards “eligible fresh groceries, pantry staples, and everyday essentials sold and shipped by Amazon.” As for the in-store Whole Foods purchases, that 20 percent can be applied to everything with the exception of gift cards and booze.This reflects a similar move that Amazon made last September, in which it invested about $1 billion to raise employee wages between $1.10 and $1.90 an hour. “We talk a lot about continuous improvement at Amazon — about always wanting to get better, even when things are going well,” writes Udit Madan, SVP for Amazon’s worldwide operations, in the release. “I love that approach because it starts with listening to our customers and teammates, and then investing and inventing to make their experience even better.“We do that in small ways throughout the year, then in big ways in moments like this. I’m excited about how these investments work together to help our employees and their families continue to thrive for the long run. And while there’s always more work to do, I’m proud that we’re continuing to find new ways to support our team, both at work and beyond.”Federal Reserve votes to raise interest rates for first time in 3 years: See how much they will go upDecades-old Christmas retailer files for bankruptcyPlan ahead: Everything you need to know about stock market hours for Columbus Day 2026Claudia covers trending and breaking news stories across the United States. She previously worked as a digital reporter for PennLive.com, where she covered a range of topics from metal music to consumer news to...