Is Amazon Paying 17 an Hour?

Is Amazon Paying 17 an Hour?

Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, recently announced that it would be raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour for all U.S. employees. The move has been praised by many as a major step forward in the fight for a living wage. But is Amazon really paying its employees 17 an hour?

The answer is yes and no. Amazon did raise its base pay to $15 an hour, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of its employees are making 17 an hour. While some of its more experienced and higher-ranking employees may be getting closer to that amount, many of the company’s lower-paid workers are still earning significantly less than 17 an hour.

The discrepancy in pay comes down to the fact that Amazon has different tiers of wages for different types of workers. For example, it pays warehouse workers differently than it does customer service reps or delivery drivers. So while many warehouse workers are making around $15 an hour, those who have more specialized roles like software engineers or product managers can make much more than 17 an hour.

Additionally, Amazon has also recently implemented a controversial “variable compensation” program which allows managers to adjust individual employee wages based on performance and other factors. This means that some employees may receive higher or lower wages than the standard $15 an hour rate depending on their job performance or other criteria set by their manager.

Overall, while Amazon’s decision to raise its minimum wage is laudable and should be applauded, it’s important to note that not all of its employees are making 17 an hour – and some may be making significantly less depending on their job duties and performance reviews.

Conclusion

Although Amazon has increased its minimum wage to $15 per hour as part of a broader effort to ensure fair compensation for all employees, not all employees are actually making 17 dollars per hour due to differences in job duties and variable compensation programs. Ultimately, while Amazon’s decision is commendable, there is still room for improvement when it comes to ensuring fair wages for all workers across the board.