Amazon has announced a $1 billion investment aimed at increasing wages and reducing health care costs for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation workers, including those in Georgia. This initiative will see higher hourly pay and lower health expenses, as said on the company’s website.
According to Amazon, since remaining with the company for three years, fulfillment and transportation employees have experienced an average wage increase of 35%. With the new investment, average hourly pay now exceeds $23, while total compensation with benefits surpasses $30. Full-time workers are anticipated to receive an average annual wage increase of $1,600, with hourly increases ranging from $1.10 to $1.90.
A new health care plan set to launch in 2026 will reduce weekly costs to $5 for Amazon’s entry-level employees and lower copays for primary care and mental health visits to the same amount. The plan is expected to decrease weekly contributions by 34% and copays by 87%, potentially resulting in significant annual savings for eligible employees.
Amazon reports that there has been a 34% decline in Recordable Incident Rates and a 65% drop in Lost Time Incident Rates since 2019. The company employs over 10,000 health and safety professionals and has invested more than $2 billion in workplace safety and ergonomics across more than 2,500 sites worldwide.
With over one million employees across the United States, Amazon has seen substantial growth since 2019. Full-time staff receive health coverage from their first day of employment, access to prepaid tuition at over 475 schools, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, and a complimentary Prime membership. These benefits are part of Amazon’s long-term employment strategy.
