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Amazon Raising Minimum Wage for US Workers to $15 Per Hour

by Associated Press

   SEATTLE --

   Amazon is boosting its minimum wage for all U.S. workers to $15 per
   hour starting next month.

   The company said Tuesday that the wage hike will benefit more than
   350,000 workers, which includes full-time, part-time, temporary and
   seasonal positions. It includes Whole Foods employees. Amazon's hourly
   operations and customer service employees, some who already make $15
   per hour, will also see a wage increase, the Seattle-based company
   said.
   Amazon has more than 575,000 employees globally.
   Pay for workers at Amazon can vary by location. Its starting pay is $10
   an hour at a warehouse in Austin, Texas, and $13.50 an hour in
   Robbinsville, New Jersey. The median pay for an Amazon employee last
   year was $28,446, according to government filings, which includes
   full-time, part-time and temporary workers.
   Amazon said its public policy team will start pushing for an increase
   in the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
   "We intend to advocate for a minimum wage increase that will have a
   profound impact on the lives of tens of millions of people and families
   across this country," Jay Carney, senior vice president of Amazon
   global corporate affairs, said in a statement.