Amazon has announced a $2.2 billion investment to increase wages and expand benefits for its hourly employees across the U.S., including those in the Northern Kentucky area.

As part of this investment, Amazon’s average base wage for hourly employees will rise to over $22 per hour. Full-time employees working 40 hours weekly are expected to see an average annual increase of approximately $3,000 due to these wage hikes. This places Amazon’s wages above the 2023 national industry average of $17.70 per hour for warehouse workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Hourly members of our front-line team will be getting at least an additional $1.50 per hour starting the end of this month,” said Udit Madan, Amazon's vice president of worldwide operations. “That’s a raise of more than $3,000 a year for the average full-time employee working 40 hrs/week.”

The investment also includes expanded benefits, such as health, vision, and dental insurance available from the first day of employment for all full-time employees. Amazon’s new benefits package also provides mental health support, including free counseling sessions and pediatric mental health services for employees and their families.

Amazon employs thousands of workers in the Northern Kentucky area, including many at its Air Cargo Superhub located at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). This facility has been a major source of employment for the region, with Amazon’s broader Northern Kentucky operations contributing thousands of jobs.

Amazon’s Career Choice program continues to support hourly employees in obtaining degrees, certifications, and skills training in areas like technology, healthcare, and logistics. In the Northern Kentucky region the program supports the area's expanding logistics and healthcare sectors, enabling local employees to pursue higher-paying roles in high-demand fields like transportation and healthcare administration. Since 2012, more than 113,000 employees have participated in Career Choice. Recently, Amazon introduced language classes as part of Career Choice, available from day one, in response to employee feedback.

Beginning next year, Amazon employees will also receive a new Prime membership perk.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 11% growth in tech roles over the next decade, with Career Choice’s tech-focused options aligning with this projected demand.