Amazon to hire 300,000 workers for seasonal jobs this year

By Megan Cerullo Reporter, MoneyWatch Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting. Read Full Bio October 20, 2026 / 2:28 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Amazon said on Tuesday that it plans to hire 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers across the U.S. this holiday season, up 20% from the same period last year.Holiday retail sales this year are expected to top $1 trillion for the first time, according to a forecast from the National Retail Federation. In September, Amazon announced that it was boosting the minimum starting wage for full-time workers to $20 an hour, while average pay for full-time staffers is roughly $24 per hour, according to the retailer. Seasonal workers earn an average of $20 per hour, according to Amazon. Starting in 2027, seasonal employees who work at least 30 hours per week will also be eligible for the same healthcare benefits provided to full-time workers, the company said. Job listings will be posted weekly from October through December, according to Amazon. Here's a snapshot of the jobs the company is looking to fill, along with the salary:Locker+ Retail Associate in Jackson, WyomingPay: $21.50-$22 per hour plus up to $3,000 signing bonusDelivery Station Warehouse Associate in Danbury, ConnecticutPay: $21-$23.50 per hour Warehouse equipment operator in Easton, PennsylvaniaPay: $21.25-$23.75 per hourXL Warehouse Equipment Operator, Huntley, IllinoisPay: $22-$24.50 per hourRobotics Warehouse Associate, Omaha, NebraskaPay: $20.25-$22.75 per hour Edited by Alain Sherter In: Amazon