Amazon said it is increasing the starting hourly wage for its U.S. full-time operations employees, such as warehouse workers, by $1 to $20 an hour. With the increase, which takes effect Sept. 27, the average wage will be nearly $24 an hour, and average total compensation will exceed $32 an hour including the value of the company's benefits package. Amazon also said employees will receive new benefits including a 10% discount on eligible fresh groceries and everyday essentials on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market online, plus 20% off at Whole Foods physical stores, available to every U.S. employee starting Oct. 1 and combinable with existing Prime member discounts. The company is additionally rolling out access for qualified employees and their families to a First Tech Federal Credit Union membership offering low-cost banking services they can keep for life, with no overdraft or monthly maintenance fees and no credit history required to open checking and savings accounts, starting later this year. For comparison, Walmart last year expanded its 10% employee discount to nearly all grocery purchases, and its starting pay for hourly workers is $14, with U.S. hourly employees averaging more than $18.50 and an average hourly starting wage of $16.
Amazon.com IncAmazon is raising starting hourly wages by $1 to $20 and adding new benefits, increasing its labor costs.
Walmart Inc.