How much does Amazon pay per hour?
For hourly operations jobs, Amazon’s most recent figures come from its September 16, 2026 announcement:
- Minimum starting pay: $20 an hour for U.S. full-time core operations roles, an increase of $1 an hour for eligible employees. Amazon says many of these roles require no prior experience.
- Average pay: nearly $24 an hour for U.S. core operations employees.
- Average total compensation: more than $32 an hour once Amazon adds the value of benefits.
Amazon’s hiring site says hourly rates for seasonal and regular warehouse associates went up effective September 27, 2026. The same site’s FAQ still lists $15 an hour as the Amazon minimum wage, with higher pay depending on location and shift. The $20 minimum is stated only for full-time core operations roles, so check the job listing for the rate on part-time, seasonal or other jobs at your site.
Amazon pay at a glance
| Figure | Amount | Who it covers | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum starting pay | $20 an hour | U.S. full-time core operations roles | September 16, 2026 |
| Average pay | Nearly $24 an hour | U.S. core operations employees | September 16, 2026 |
| Average total compensation | More than $32 an hour, including benefits | U.S. core operations employees | September 16, 2026 |
| Company minimum wage | $15 an hour | Amazon jobs generally, before location and shift | Hiring FAQ, October 2026 |
| Payday | Weekly, every Friday | All hourly associates | Hiring FAQ, October 2026 |
| Delivery driver average (target) | Nearly $24 an hour | Drivers employed by Delivery Service Partners | September 2026, for 2027 |
Amazon also says it has an annual step plan, so pay increases during each of your first three years with the company. It did not publish the step amounts.
What do fulfillment center and delivery station jobs pay?
Amazon hires hourly associates for several kinds of buildings. Its hiring site describes the main ones this way:
| Role | What the job involves |
|---|---|
| Fulfillment center associate | Gets customer orders ready by prepping packages and loading them into trucks |
| Sortation center associate | Receives, sorts and loads packages for their next destination |
| Delivery station associate | Receives, moves and loads packages to prepare them for delivery drivers |
Amazon does not publish separate national rates for each building type. Pay depends on location and shift, so check each listing at hiring.amazon.com for the rate. If the opening is a full-time core operations role, the $20 minimum applies.
Your shift can change your rate. Amazon says most early morning shifts and most night shifts earn more per hour, and weekend shifts may pay more too. Early morning shifts typically start between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and night shifts typically start between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
How much do Amazon delivery drivers make?
Drivers in Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner program work for the DSPs, which Amazon describes as small businesses built by entrepreneurs. Amazon says specifics vary by DSP and geography, and that pay and benefit decisions are made by DSP owners as employers.
In September 2026, Amazon said it will invest $1.9 billion in the DSP program in 2027, helping DSPs raise driver pay to a national average of nearly $24 an hour. Amazon also says all DSPs provide health coverage and paid time off for full-time drivers. Because each DSP decides its own pay, ask the company that posts the job for its exact rate.
How often does Amazon pay?
Amazon’s hiring FAQ says all hourly associates are paid weekly, every Friday, with 52 pay periods a year. Our guide to how many pay periods are in a year shows how a weekly schedule compares with biweekly and semi-monthly pay.
You do not always have to wait for Friday. With Anytime Pay, available to all Amazon hourly warehouse employees, you can cash out up to 75% of eligible earned pay at any time, 24 hours a day. Amazon says the funds go onto your paycard.
What benefits come with Amazon pay?
Amazon’s benefits depend on your weekly schedule. The hiring site defines full time as 40 hours, reduced time as 30 to 39 hours, part time as 20 to 29 hours and flex time as a minimum of 4 hours a week.
| Benefit | Full and reduced time (30 to 40 hours) | Part time (20 to 29 hours) | Flex time (under 20 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical plan | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Dental and vision | Yes | After 90 days, employee only | Not listed |
| 401(k) with Amazon match | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paid time off | Yes, plus company holidays | Earned as you work, plus company holidays | Earned as you work |
| Career Choice education | After 90 days | After 90 days | Not listed |
A few details from Amazon’s own pages:
- Low-cost health plan. Regular full-time employees get health care from day one, including an Essential Plan at $5 a week with $5 copays.
- Career Choice. Prepaid tuition of up to $5,250 a year for eligible employees.
- Grocery discount. Starting October 1, 2026, U.S. employees get an uncapped 10% off eligible groceries and essentials online at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market, and 20% off in Whole Foods Market stores.
- Parental leave. Eligible birthing parents get up to 20 weeks of fully paid leave, and eligible non-birthing and adoptive parents get six weeks.
How much is Amazon pay per year?
Multiply the hourly rate by your weekly hours, then by 52. Because Amazon pays weekly, the weekly column is roughly what each paycheck shows before taxes.
| Hourly rate | Schedule | Weekly pay | Yearly pay before taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | Full time, 40 hours | $800 | $41,600 |
| $20 | Reduced time, 30 hours | $600 | $31,200 |
| $20 | Part time, 25 hours | $500 | $26,000 |
| $24 | Full time, 40 hours | $960 | $49,920 |
Shift premiums and overtime would raise these totals. Under federal law, covered nonexempt employees earn at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, so at $20 an hour, each overtime hour pays at least $30.
For take-home pay by state at the full-time starting rate, see what $20 an hour is per year.
Before you apply, read each listing for four details: the hourly rate, the shift start time, the weekly hours and whether the job is regular or seasonal. Those four facts decide your weekly pay and your benefits more than the national averages do.
How does Amazon pay compare with minimum wage?
Amazon’s $20 full-time starting rate is above every state’s 2026 minimum wage. The Washington minimum wage, the highest statewide rate, is $17.13, and some Washington cities set higher local rates. In states that use the federal minimum, such as Texas, the Texas minimum wage is $7.25, so Amazon’s floor is far above the legal one. Check the minimum wage in your state to compare a part-time or seasonal offer.
Against the wider warehouse market, Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025 puts the national median at $19.35 an hour for hand laborers and freight, stock and material movers, and $17.95 for stockers and order fillers. Amazon’s $20 full-time floor sits above both medians, and its average near $24 is well above them.
How can you raise your pay at Amazon?
Amazon’s own pages point to several levers:
- Stay through the step plan. Pay rises in each of your first three years.
- Pick a higher-paying shift. Early morning, night and weekend shifts often pay more per hour.
- Move to full time. The $20 minimum applies to full-time core operations roles, and medical coverage is listed for 30 to 40 hour schedules.
- Use Career Choice. After 90 days, eligible employees can get prepaid tuition of up to $5,250 a year, and Amazon also offers apprenticeships and certifications.
How do you prepare for an Amazon interview?
Amazon says many warehouse jobs need no resume or interview. The process usually runs from application to a work assessment, a pre-hire orientation and your first day. If the role you want does include an interview, or you want to rehearse questions about safety and teamwork, practice with our Amazon interview quiz.
JobQuix is not affiliated with Amazon. Pay and hiring practices change; check the company’s careers site for current details.