Fast facts:
Amazon offers seven different types of entry-level warehouse jobs. Starting pay for these positions varies by location and ranges from around $16.75 to $21.50 per hour, depending on job type and location.Amazon’s warehouse jobs have a mixed reputation — turnover rates are high, the physical nature of the work is tiring, and injuries aren’t uncommon — but positions are easy to get, even for those with a criminal record, no degree, or limited work experience.
Behind Amazon’s seemingly endless product selection and lightning-fast shipping is a vast and complicated storage, shipping, and logistics network powered by the company’s legions of warehouse associates. Amazon’s fulfillment center roles are not glamorous careers — warehouse associates are hourly, non-exempt employees who work long shifts on their feet — but these positions do offer a number of unique advantages for certain types of job seekers.
Here’s what you need to know about Amazon’s warehouse jobs, what they pay, and whether working at a fulfillment center for the U.S.’ biggest online retailer is the right move for you.
Related: Amazon area manager salary: What you can make running a fulfillment center
Should I get a job at an Amazon warehouse? What are the requirements?
Many are put off by the idea of working long, repetitive shifts alongside robots in a windowless concrete tech-dystopia, and for good reason. Amazon’s warehouses have been the locus of plenty of controversies and complaints, ranging from worker safety issues to 1984-esque surveillance to unsavory union-busting efforts.
Still, Amazon is a prolific employer, and its warehouse positions are notorious for having some of the lowest barriers to entry in the industry. Applicants just need to be over 18, relatively physically fit, and able to follow instructions. Specialized education and experience are not required, and those with criminal records — including certain types of felony convictions — are hired frequently.
Work is consistent, and overtime shifts are easy to come by, especially during the company’s peak season, which usually ranges from mid-November through early January.
Amazon’s warehouse jobs may be a good fit for:
anyone looking for a full schedule with no shortage of shifts and plenty of opportunities to earn overtime pay.individuals with limited employment options due to a criminal record or lack of experience or education. those who want a physically active job so they can earn money while staying fit.
Amazon’s warehouse roles may not be the best choice for:
individuals who are highly susceptible to injury or are unable to work on their feet, squat, bend, reach, and lift packages for extended periods of time.Those who don’t do well with performance quotas, direct management, and being closely monitored in their work.
Amazon’s warehouses: Where are they located & what are they like?
As of late 2023, the eCommerce giant operated at least 110 warehouse facilities in the U.S. and at least another 295 abroad, according to Business Insider. One or more of these facilities exists in most U.S. and Mexican states and Canadian provinces, so warehouse associate jobs are widely available across the bulk of the North American continent.
Amazon’s warehouse facilities typically range in size from 600,000 to over one million square feet. Some of these are used to process specific types of items (like large furniture or groceries), while others, called sortable fulfillment centers, handle the bulk of the ordinary household and consumer goods that Amazon sells and ships. Smaller, local delivery station warehouses also exist to prepare orders for the final legs of their journeys to customers’ doorsteps
Amazon’s fulfillment centers are massive and typically windowless. Some employ as many as 1,500 full-time workers.
An individual sortable Amazon fulfillment center, usually around 800,000 square feet, can employ up to 1,500 full-time workers, according to the company.
Like most warehousing facilities, Amazon’s warehouses are largely windowless to prevent glare and minimize temperature extremes. That being said, they can still be uncomfortably hot or cold, depending on the location and season (more on this in the “disadvantages” section at the end of this article).
Amazon’s 7 entry-level warehouse jobs & what they pay
Most of Amazon’s warehouse associate positions share certain basic characteristics. Shifts are long, physical, and fast-paced; and accuracy and efficiency are the name of the game. Here’s what each of the company’s seven different warehouse roles entails and how much each one pays:
Fulfillment Center Associate: $17–$21.50 per hour
Fulfillment center associate jobs are Amazon’s most commonly available warehouse position.
These associates receive, organize, and shelve new inventory; pick, pack, and load customer orders; and sometimes operate forklifts and similar vehicles (after being trained and certified on the job). Scanners are used during most tasks to read barcodes and track products to ensure things are going where they’re supposed to.
Applicants must be able to work long shifts on their feet; be comfortable bending, squatting, lifting, reaching, and pulling; be able to lift up to 49 pounds and push carts and dollies weighing up to 60 pounds; and be comfortable working on scaffolds and mezzanines at heights of up to 40 feet.
As of this article’s most recent update, open fulfillment center warehouse associate positions listed starting pay ranging from a low of $17 per hour (Fort Wayne, IN) to a high of $21.50 per hour (for an English-Spanish bilingual role in North Andover, MA).
Sortation Center Associate: $18.50–$19.75 per hour
Sortation center associates do similar work to fulfillment center associates but earlier in Amazon’s logistics chain. They unload and sort inventory, prepare customer orders for delivery, and stack merchandise on pallets, using scanners, computers, and handheld tag printers along the way.
Like fulfillment center associates, those at sortation facilities must be able to work on their feet, lift heavy packages, push carts, and work up to 40 high on storage structures.
Open sortation center associate positions on Amazon’s careers site listed starting pay ranging from a low of $18.50 per hour (Maryville, TN) to a high of $19.75 per hour (Mt. Juliet, TX). All listed sortation associate jobs offered up to $2 per hour in additional premium pay during certain hours.
Amazon’s warehouse workers often have to meet quotas (e.g., 160 boxes packed/hour), and work can be repetitive.
(Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Delivery Station Associate: $17–$20.50 per hour
Delivery station associates work at the last stop along Amazon’s logistics chain before orders go out to customers. They receive and prepare inventory from truck deliveries, use computers and handheld devices to scan and sort items, and prepare customer orders for delivery.
Like other Amazon warehouse associates, delivery station workers need to be able to work long shifts on their feet, lift heavy packages, push and pull heavy carts and dollies, and work on storage scaffolds up to 40 feet high.
Open delivery station associate positions offered starting pay ranging from a low of $17 per hour (FL, ID, IN, MO, MT, WI) to a high of $20.50 per hour (Haverhill, MA).
XL Warehouse Associate: $16.75–$17 per hour
XL warehouse associates perform duties similar to those listed above, but they work specifically with larger-sized products like furniture, televisions, and home appliances. Some associates may be trained and certified to operate pallet drivers, forklifts, and other powered industrial trucks.
XL associates must be able to lift up to 49 pounds without assistance and be able to move heavier items using specific methods and equipment, be comfortable working long shifts on their feet while bending, pulling, reaching, squatting and hauling, and be comfortable working on mezzanines up to 40 feet off the ground.
Open delivery station associate positions on Amazon’s careers site offered starting pay ranging from a low of $16.75 per hour (Oshkosh, WI) to a high of $17 per hour (Maryland Heights, MO).
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Distribution Center Associate
Amazon’s distribution center associates work in storage facilities that house and ship groceries and household products to the company’s local grocery warehouses. Some areas of these facilities are refrigerated to house certain types of grocery products.
Distribution associates use scanners and computers to track inventory as they pack, lift, sort, and move boxes, in some cases using powered industrial trucks, for which on-the-job training and certification are provided.
As of this article’s last update, no U.S.-based distribution center associate positions were listed on Amazon’s careers site.
Grocery Warehouse Associate
Grocery warehouse associates, like distribution center associates, work with groceries and household products but at smaller grocery warehouses, from which orders are delivered to local customers.
These facilities are more like actual grocery stores. Workers are responsible for receiving and unloading inventory, checking items for quality, picking and packing individual grocery orders to prepare them for delivery, and using scanners and computers to track products—sometimes in refrigerated areas.
As of this article’s last update, no U.S.-based grocery warehouse associate positions were listed on Amazon’s careers site.
Amazon Air Associate
Amazon air associates load and unload inventory from both airplanes and trucks, weigh and label packages, and load inventory onto transportation containers.
Air associates must be able to work long shifts on their feet both inside and outdoors, lift up to 49 pounds, push and pull heavy carts and dollies, and operate powered industrial trucks (for which training and certification are provided).
As of this article’s last update, no U.S.-based air associate positions were listed on Amazon’s careers site.
Do Amazon’s warehouse workers get benefits?
Amazon’s U.S. warehouse employees have access to a fairly robust suite of benefits. Both full-time and part-time workers are eligible for the following benefits, among others:
Choice of a variety of employer-sponsored health and prescription drug insurance plansChoice of two different dental insurance plans, both of which cover exams, cleanings, and x-rays at no additional costChoice of two different vision insurance plans, both of which cover annual eye exams at no additional costMental health counseling and referrals, including five free counseling sessions per individual issue per year401(k) retirement plan, including a 50% employer match on contributions up to 4% of each paycheck, which vest after three years of employmentLife and accidental death and dismemberment insurance equal to two times an employee’s annual base salary up to $300,000Six weeks of paid parental leaveAccrual of paid time off (varies by job/location)
What are the advantages of working at an Amazon warehouse?
While Amazon warehouse jobs have earned a somewhat unsavory reputation, they have a number of perks that certain types of job-seekers find advantageous:
Jobs are easy to get. Anyone over 18 can likely get hired eventually, regardless of education level, prior experience, or most types of criminal convictions. Hours are plentiful, and overtime shifts are readily available in most locations, especially during peak seasons. Many positions offer employees the opportunity to become trained and certified in the operation of forklifts and other powered industrial vehicles, which can help individuals land other warehousing jobs in the future. Amazon’s warehouse positions come with a fairly competitive array of employee benefits. Many different shifts are available, so those with children or other obligations can usually find a schedule that fits with their routine.
What are the downsides of working at an Amazon warehouse?
While Amazon’s warehouse positions do offer a unique array of advantages, they are far better known for their numerous downsides. Here are some of the most discussed cons of working at one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
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On-the-job injuries
Warehouse work is highly physical, so workplace injuries are understandably more common in the storage, shipping, and logistics industry than many others, but Amazon’s warehouses seem to be particularly dangerous workplaces, even within the context of the industry. Overheating is a common issue in Amazon’s warehouses, especially those located in areas with hotter climates (see Reddit post above).
A 2023 study of Amazon’s warehouse workforce by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Urban Economic Development found that 41% of all Amazon warehouse workers surveyed had been injured on the job. That number jumped to 51% when only workers with three or more years of tenure were included.
And while less than half of workers reported “official” workplace injuries, 69% of the 1,484 respondents (who worked at 451 different Amazon facilities in 42 different states) reported having stayed home from work without pay to recover from pain, exhaustion, or injuries sustained on the job.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Workplace surveillance
Amazon’s warehouse workers also feel the weight of monitoring techniques the company uses to ensure productivity. The study mentioned above also revealed that 60% of respondents experienced more workplace monitoring at Amazon than at previous workplaces.
The study also revealed that 72% thought that the speed of their work was usually “measured in detail by company technology” (compared to an industry average of 58%). When asked how and why the company uses surveillance technology to monitor workers, 45% said, “it’s mainly used to control or discipline workers,” while only 36% said, “it’s mainly used to help develop workers’ skills and abilities.”
According to a 2022 report by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, surveillance videos of employees’ work are reviewed not only by AI programs but also by underpaid human workers “thousands of miles away whose input helps to improve Amazon’s machine learning tools.” Interestingly, these Amazon employees, who go through “up to 8,000 videos a day,” also have their output “ranked against that of their colleagues” and regularly report workplace injuries like “headaches, eye pain, and even deterioration in their eyesight.”
High performance quotas and disciplinary action
Amazon’s warehouse workers, once trained, are typically subject to performance quotas (e.g., scan and verify 175 items per hour). According to some, these quotas can be difficult to meet on an ongoing basis, and failing to do so can quickly result in disciplinary actions ranging from warning to suspension to termination.
Actual performance quotas vary between location and position and may come from area managers (who oversee individual fulfilment centers) or their higher ups.
A 2021 class-action lawsuit accused Amazon of discriminating against older employees, claiming that accross-the-board performance minimums put older workers at higher risk of injury, but this suit was dismissed in 2023.
Still, anecdotal evidence paints a dystopian picture. A Connecticut Amazon employee claimed in an anonymous video testimony in 2023 that using the bathroom at their fulfillment center required a 10-minute round trip (apparently classified as “time off task” by the company’s electronic surveillance system) that made it difficult for them to meet their quota of packing 160 boxes per hour.
Anti-unionization efforts
In April of 2022, the first Amazon Labor Union was formed in Staten Island, despite widespread efforts by the company to dissuade workers from organizing.
These union-busting efforts continue around the country in the form of anti-union messaging on fliers posted in the workplace, meetings during which employees are warned of the supposed risks of unionizations, and other tactics. Some of these efforts have resulted in workers and organizers at various Amazon warehouse locations around the country filing unfair labor practice charges, some of which have stuck.
In late 2023, a judge found that Amazon violated federal labor law at JFK8 (the company’s largest warehouse in New York and the first to successfully unionize during the summer and fall of 2021, when the unionization push was at its height. Violations included retaliating against pro-union employees and paying a consultant to tell employees that unionization was “futile.”
