Amazon is raising average starting pay for full-time core operations employees to nearly $24 per hour. The company is also launching a new grocery discount and access to lifetime banking benefits – investments designed to make everyday life more affordable for its workforce, including more than 19,000 full- and part-time employees across Kentucky.
Higher pay across the board
Amazon is investing more than $1.5 billion nationally to raise pay for eligible operations employees by $1 per hour, bringing the average hourly hour pay to nearly $24 per hour – with no prior experience required for many roles – and when combined with Amazon’s industry-leading benefits, average total compensation exceeds $32 per hour.
Day 1 Financial – a lifetime banking benefit
Amazon is providing employees access to Day 1 Financial, a membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union that offers qualified employees and their families high-quality, low-cost banking services they can keep for life. Benefits include:
• $0 overdraft fees, $0 monthly maintenance fees, and no account minimums
• No credit history required to open checking and savings accounts
• Access to thousands of surcharge-free ATMs nationwide
• Mobile and online banking, direct deposit, and credit-building programs
• Access to competitive credit cards, auto loans, and home loans for those who qualify
Day 1 Financial will begin rolling out in late 2026 and become broadly available in 2027.
Grocery discount for all U.S. employees
Starting October 1, every Amazon employee in the U.S. – including those across Kentucky – will have access to a new grocery discount:
• An uncapped 10% off eligible grocery and everyday essentials on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market online
• An uncapped 20% off in-store at Whole Foods Market, including the hot bar and salad bar
• The discount applies to purchases made through the employee’s Amazon account and can be combined with existing Prime member discounts
Amazon’s existing benefits
These new investments build on the industry-leading benefits Amazon already offers, including:
• Healthcare from Day 1 for regular full-time employees, including the Essential Plan at $5 a week with $5 copays
• Free Prime membership with fast shipping, streaming, fuel savings, Grubhub+, and more
• Career Choice, providing prepaid tuition of up to $5,250 per year through more than 475 education partners
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid parental leave, flexible time off, and 24/7 mental health support
Amazon in Kentucky – by the numbers
Amazon has invested more than $75 billion in Kentucky, contributing more than $55 billion to the state’s GDP and supporting 30,000 indirect jobs across the Bluegrass State. The company’s Kentucky footprint includes:
• 12 fulfillment and sortation centers
• 7 delivery stations
• 1 Amazon Air hub — in Northern Kentucky
• 4 solar farms and 3 sites with on-site solar
• More than 17 million items sold by Kentucky-based independent sellers through Amazon’s store in 2025
• More than 1 million meals delivered on behalf of food banks and nonprofits in 2025
What leaders are saying
“We look at the full picture each year – pay, benefits, and how we can continue to support our teammates and their families through many different parts of their lives. These investments work together to help our employees and their families continue to thrive for the long run,” said Udit Madan, Senior Vice President, Amazon Worldwide Operations
“When Amazon raises pay and expands benefits for more than 19,000 employees across Kentucky, the impact extends far beyond our facilities – it reaches families, local businesses, and communities across all 120 counties. These investments reflect our commitment to being a long-term partner in the Commonwealth’s economic growth, and they build on more than $75 billion we’ve invested in Kentucky since 2010,” said Deborah Massie, Regional Manager of Economic Development, Amazon.
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