Amazon bumps average warehouse pay and adds free Prime membership perk

Amazon is increasing wages for its hourly warehouse workers and offering them a free Prime subscription as a new perk. The average starting pay for front-line employees in the U.S. will now be over $22 an hour, up from $20.50. Employees will also receive a Prime subscription, which costs $140 a year, as part of their benefits package starting early next year. Amazon is also raising wages for contracted delivery drivers to around $22 an hour. These changes come as Amazon gears up for the busy holiday shopping season, with plans to host a Prime Day-like event on Oct. 8-9.