Thousands of Amazon employees in Connecticut are set to receive raises as part of a $1.5 billion nationwide investment in higher wages for the company’s warehouse, delivery and other operations workers.
Amazon said eligible employees will receive an additional $1 per hour, bringing the company’s minimum starting wage for full-time operations positions to $20 an hour. Average pay for those workers will increase to nearly $24 an hour, the e-commerce giant said.
Connecticut’s $16.94 hourly minimum wage is set to increase to $17.48 on Jan. 1.
The company did not disclose the number of Connecticut workers who will receive raises. Amazon employs more than 15,000 people and operates 17 facilities across the state.
The online retailer is also adding grocery discounts and a banking benefit for employees. Beginning Oct. 1, U.S. workers will receive 10% off eligible groceries and household essentials purchased online through Amazon and Whole Foods Market, along with a 20% discount on in-store purchases at Whole Foods.
Amazon said a new credit union membership offering, which will include checking and savings accounts without monthly maintenance or overdraft fees, will begin rolling out later this year.
The company also offers prepaid tuition through participating schools, including UConn, CT State Community College and Southern Connecticut State University. More than 2,100 Connecticut employees have participated in the education program since 2019, Amazon said.
Amazon is also building a 3.2-million-square-foot fulfillment center along the Waterbury-Naugatuck border that is expected to open in 2027 and employ about 1,000 people.
