(WKYT) – Amazon announced that it is raising its average starting pay and offering employee grocery and banking benefits, which will impact thousands of workers across Kentucky.
According to the company, the investment is meant to make everyday life more affordable for its employees, including for more than 19,000 full-time and part-time Kentucky workers.
Amazon is raising pay for eligible operations employees by $1 per hour, making the average starting pay for full-time core operations employees nearly $24 per hour.
The company is also providing employees access to a membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union that offers those qualified and their families low-cost baking services they can keep for life.
Starting Oct 1. 2026, Amazon employees will also have access to a new grocery discount, which the company said features the following:
- 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