Amazon will raise minimum starting pay for frontline operations employees in the UK to at least £31,408 from 27 September 2026, with the increase of up to 5.6 per cent affecting tens of thousands of workers across its operations.

The company said minimum hourly pay will increase from £14.30 to £15.10 for employees in some locations, while workers in other locations will receive an increase to £16.10. The changes apply across full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal operations roles.

Amazon said the latest increase takes its minimum starting pay 44 per cent higher than in 2022, following an 80p per hour increase over the past year. Annual starting salaries will reach £33,488 in some locations, compared with the £31,408 national minimum cited by the company.

John Boumphrey, Amazon UK country manager, said: “Our frontline teams are the backbone of our business, and this pay increase reflects that. Starting salaries now exceed £31,000 a year, and we'll continue investing in our people because they deserve it.”

The announcement follows Amazon's commitment to invest £40 billion in the UK between 2025 and 2027, which the company describes as its largest investment outside the US. Amazon said more than £15 billion of that commitment has already been delivered.

The company said the pay increase forms part of a wider package of employee benefits, including private medical insurance, life insurance, income protection, a company pension scheme and free Prime membership for eligible employees.

Amazon's Career Choice programme, which funds skills development through nationally recognised courses, provides up to £3,000 per year for UK employees. The company said more than 30,000 employees have participated in the programme since its UK launch in 2014.

The pay announcement comes alongside changes to employee benefits in the US, where Amazon is increasing minimum starting pay for eligible full-time core operations employees by $1 to $20 per hour. Udit Madan, senior vice president of Amazon Worldwide Operations, said the changes represent an investment of more than $1.5 billion in higher pay for US core operations employees.

Madan said the US changes would bring average hourly pay to nearly $24, while average total compensation would exceed $32 an hour when benefits are included. Amazon is also introducing a lifetime banking benefit through First Tech Federal Credit Union and a 10 per cent discount on eligible groceries and everyday essentials bought online in the US.

The UK changes take effect on 27 September, while Amazon's new US banking benefit is expected to begin rolling out in late 2026.

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